Something for the Future

Armin Arlert was sitting in his makeshift bed inside a practically abandoned warehouse, staring at his hands. Armin killed his first human being the day before, shooting a woman in the back, sending a bullet straight through her heart. That woman may have been trying to murder Jean, but Armin couldn't help but feel guilty about it, as he saw a brief glimpse of the woman's hesitant and worried look as she tried to shoot Jean, telling Armin that she wasn't a bad person after all. While Armin was thinking, he heard footsteps coming near him, and when he turned, a light blush appeared on his face as he saw Sasha Blouse coming his way.

"Hey, Armin…"

"Hey, Sasha…" God, it was so awkward trying to talk to her. Ever since Sasha had kissed him after the whole Annie fiasco, Armin hadn't been able to look at Sasha without his face exploding into a red blush. Luckily, he hadn't been able to focus on his nervousness around Sasha or have an extremely awkward talk about the kiss, due to all the recent developments regarding Reiner and everything else. But now that Sasha was within arms reach, that's all he was focusing on, and it was making him a nervous wreck.

"Armin…do you mind if I sleep here? I'm…a little scared to sleep by myself," Sasha asked, not being able to look at Armin, choosing instead to look at the ground while squirming in nervousness. Armin's blush darkened when he heard Sasha's request, and he didn't know what to say, but then realized that Sasha looked terrified. Sasha hadn't had the experiences with Titans that Armin had, and from what Armin heard about her, she lived in a mountainous area where there weren't many people there, so she never really was used to all of these new experiences she's been through. Sasha must've been more terrified about what's going on than practically anyone.

"Sure Sasha," Armin mumbled, scooting to his left, allowing Sasha to comfortably lie down on the bed. Armin looked on as Sasha looked up on the ceiling, and stared, not looking at Armin. However, Armin looked at Sasha's face and noticed that Sasha was blushing almost as much as he was, so he took a deep breath and decided to imitate a conversation. "So Sasha…how do you do it?"

"Do what?

"I…I don't know how to really say this, but…when we were fighting those people, you didn't hesitate. You shot arrows at those guys like it was nothing, and I'm just wondering how you can handle possibly killing these people," Armin explained. Sasha took a deep breath and, keeping her eyes glued to the ceiling, answered his question.

"When I was a kid, my Dad taught me to hunt. I was really scared to hunt at first, and we didn't catch anything for a few days, but one day, my Dad sat me down and told me that this is our main source of meat. Dad told me that these animals are our main source of food and that killing them would help us live. So…I guess the best answer I can give you is that I understand that if we don't kill these guys, we're gonna get killed. I don't like killing things, but I understand that sometimes, it has to be done," Sasha explained as tears started forming out of the corners of her eyes. Armin took notice and leaned in to wipe the tears beginning to form with his thumb, causing Sasha to jump with a blush on her face.

"Oh! Sorry! I was…just…why are you crying?" Armin asked, the deep red blush returning to his face. Sasha felt her face and noticed the remaining wetness from the tears Armin had dried off of her face.

"It's nothing, I just…really miss my Mom and Dad. When I rescued that girl in my village, I was…so happy to see my Dad again and when we made up and talked for the first time in three years, I was even happier. It just sucks that I left without talking with my Mom because she really hated it when I went into the military and was always worried that being in the military would get me killed," Sasha explained as she sat up, sighing at the thought of never seeing her mother again. However, Armin put a comforting arm over the back of Sasha's neck, causing both of their blushes to grow as Armin also started patting Sasha on the head.

"Sasha…don't worry. Things may look bleak now, but I'm sure if we all put our heads together, we can come up with something that can make this whole thing with the government…end. It sounds ridiculous, but we've survived this long, so maybe we can get the government off of our backs, and then you can see your family again without any persecution," Armin explained to Sasha, continuing to run his hand through her hair. Sasha looked up at Armin, and started chuckling, much to Armin's confusion, not really finding anything about the situation funny.

"Sorry Armin, it's just that…the last time we had a real talk, I was the one making you feel better after what happened with Annie. It's just funny that our roles have been reversed, but it also kind of makes me wonder why you haven't talked to me much since that time. Did I do something wrong?" Sasha asked, looking up at Armin with curious, puppy dog eyes, causing Armin's heart to melt, and his mind to almost turn completely to white noise.

"Well…uh…I…I was…I was just…nervous. I mean, you…kissed me out of nowhere…so…I didn't know what to say. And then we had all that stuff with Reiner and-" Armin started rambling and stammering on as he looked at Sasha, and stopped. Sasha's face was blushing, but this time it was lighting up like a Christmas tree, and she was also pressing her pointer fingers together.

"I'm…really sorry about that. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing and I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable with the kiss and all that," Sasha mumbled, not even being able to look Armin in the face. Armin gave a warm smile to Sasha's nervous antics, and pulled her closer to him, allowing him to pet more of her milk chocolate hair. This seemed to relax her, as Sasha stopped shaking, and the blush on her face wasn't as pronounced as it had just been, so Armin continued patting Sasha on the head, occasionally stopping to take a strand of Sasha's long hair, and twirl it around his fingers.

"Sasha…it's OK. Honestly, I'm not even mad about the kiss, but I have been curious about why you kissed me in the first place," Armin responded as Sasha looked up at Armin, and pursed her lips in thought, as her blush began to return in full force.

"Well…it's just that…I like you…a lot," Sasha mumbled, with her voice muffled as she pressed her face against Armin's shirt.

"…r…really?"

"Yeah. Honestly, ever since I heard you give that passionate speech to that Kitts guy and everyone else who was trying to kill you, it…didn't make me love you automatically, but it definitely made me see you in such a different light. I saw you as a really brave, smart, and handsome guy who was willing to do whatever it took to save his friends. And…it eventually grew to the point where I started loving you," Sasha explained as Armin remembered his whole speech to Kitts. He was trying to save Eren and Mikasa, but now, Armin remembered Sasha looking on from a safe distance just in his peripheral vision, looking on in wonder as Armin bravely said his piece under the threat of cannon fire.

"Sasha…honestly, after you kissed me that day, it…stayed in my mind. My mind has been in a million different places because of everything that's happened, but those rare times when I had some time to myself, I thought of what I really felt towards you."

"And…?"

"…and…I…think I might…love you too. I mean, I really think you're beautiful, and I love your energetic and happy personality, and you make me laugh, and you really help encourage me, and-" Armin was cut off with Sasha jumping on him, and kissing him on the mouth. Armin didn't kiss back at first, because he was shocked at what had just happened, but when he calmed down, Armin sunk into the kiss and hugged Sasha. After almost two minutes of straight kissing, the two separated to get a breath of air, before laying back down next to each other.

"Wow…"

"Yeah, I was thinking the exact same thing." The two let out a light chuckle as Sasha rolled over so that she could cuddle with Armin. Armin put an arm over Sasha's back and started giving her a light massage, rubbing the knuckles of his pointer and index fingers on Sasha's back.

"Hey, Sasha."

"Hm?"

"When this is all over, if we survive-"

"—when"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't say 'if'. We are going to survive this. So when you ask me your question, say 'when we survive'". Armin sighed with a smile on his face, and kissed Sasha on the forehead, causing her to nuzzle her head on Armin's chest.

"That's why I love you. Anyway, when we survive this, I…want to take you out on a real date. Like, we can go watch a movie, go out for a nice walk in the park, to a really nice restaurant or…" Armin trailed off, not noticing that Sasha started drooling at the mention of a restaurant, specifically at the food they could have.

"That sounds amazing. What types of restaurants do you know about?" Sasha asked as Armin had to stifle a laugh at Sasha's complete undivided attention at the mere mention of something food-related.

"Well…there's one that serves really good chicken. My Grandfather used to take me there all the time. I know that luckily, the owner and his restaurant has been able to survive the Titan attacks, so hopefully, we can go there once this is all over," Armin responded as Sasha's mouth continued to drool over the prospect of a meal full of meat, but then realized something else, and looked Armin dead in the face with a serious look on her face.

"Uhhh…yes Sasha?"

"Armin, when this is all over, you have to meet my parents. I think my parents would really be happy knowing that I picked such a nice, smart, and handsome guy to be with," Sasha said, causing Armin to smile thoughtfully, and look up in thought.

"I would like that a lot, and maybe, we can find a place to live together."

"And then we can find a great place to…take each other."

"And after that, maybe we can get married. Maybe at a Cliffside, with the water visible and the sunset painting us in a radiant glow."

"OK, Mr. Poet, and then after that, maybe we can have a kid or two."

"And before all that, maybe the two of you can get the fuck to sleep," a deeper voice made them jump. When they turned to see who was talking to them, they saw Levi Ackermann, looking at them with his usual disgusted frown.

"Oh, Captain Levi, we were just-" Sasha tried to explain before Levi put a hand up to stop Sasha from talking.

"I really couldn't give less of a shit about this little relationship that just blossomed before my eyes-"

"Wait…you've been watching us this whole time?"

"Don't interrupt me, Arlert. Anyway, while I think it's fantastic that you're thinking positively of the future, I need to make sure you two are still focused on our mission to get Eren and Historia back," Levi explained as Armin and Sasha looked at each other, and nodded passionately before looking back at Levi with that same passion, which freaked him out a little bit.

"Of course. We're going to help and do whatever we can to get Eren and Historia back," Armin confirmed. Levi looked at Armin and Sasha for several seconds before nodding and turning around.

"I'm glad to hear it, now get to sleep. We need the both of you in your best frame of mind for the mission tomorrow," Levi explained as he left Armin and Sasha to their own devices. Not wanting to get on Levi's bad side, Sasha and Armin got under the covers, snuggled underneath them, and attempted to get some sleep. However, before the two could officially go to sleep, Armin gave Sasha a peck on the tip of her nose and gave her a soft smile, which Sasha returned before the two drifted off into a blissful sleep for the first time in what felt like an eternity.