Chapter six
Inner conflict.
As peaceful as Armin's slumber had begun, it was not long before the blond did start to dream again. He groaned a little, as he drifted into his long, deep sleep.
He was walking trough an empty corridor, a dim light present, just enough to barely see where you were walking. As Armin looked around, not seeing much besides tiles, bricks and darkness, he wondered where he was. That was, until he heard footsteps. ''Hello, is anyone there?'' Armin called out. Whatever was walking there, wasn't answering him. It just continued walking, until Armin suddenly heard a scream and a loud crash. As frightened as Armin was, he still decided to approach the sounds. He heard someone run away, but forgot about it the second he spotted an injured person on the floor.
Armin knelt beside the person, only to face Eren. ''Eren?'' he asked hesitantly, and Eren nodded. ''Armin, I'm not feeling to well.'' he groaned, as Armin tried to see what was wrong. He suddenly spotted a blood stain near Eren's heart, and tore open the other boy's shirt, he gasped at the sight. ''Eren, you're...'' his voice faltered when Eren nodded, and groaned before his body became limp. ''Eren, EREN!'' Armin cried, wondering what the hell was going on. He tried to check for a pulse, but didn't find it.
''You could have prevented this.'' a voice suddenly said. Armin regonized the voice, it was the voice of his own grandfather. ''Granddad, what do you mean?'' he asked, but saw no one to talk to. He turned to Eren again, slumped over him, and started crying. ''He did nothing to deserve this.'' he said in agony. ''You're a child of bad omen, Armin.'' the voice said, making Armin cry even harder.
''Someone help me!'' Armin pleaded, as he pressed his hands against his ears, hoping he wouldn't be able to hear the voice anymore. Another voice joined the first, one Armin couldn't quite regonize. ''Why don't you give up, Armin? There is no way humans will ever beat the Titans, no way you'll survive. Why don't you flee while you can? You don't want to die like the rest did, do you?'' the voice told him, and Armin's eyes widened while he got up. ''What are you talking about?'' he screamed, and then the lights turned on. Armin had to blink a few times, before he could see again, but the moment he could, he wished he wasn't able to see anything at all. Each and every one of his friends was lying dead on these cold, hard tiles. Some bodies carried grievous wounds, others looked like they used to, an empty shell of their former selves.
''Aaah!'' Armin screamed, as he fell down onto his knees. ''See what I mean'' the second voice said again, and Armin started crying. ''Leave Armin. Leave and don't look back'' the first voice spoke to him. Armin's eyes became dull, as he wanted to answer but didn't have the power to do so. He suddenly heard light footsteps, this time approaching Armin. Armin didn't have the courage to look, as he figured it could be the murderer, or perhaps even a Titan. He just wished whoever it was, would hurry up. He didn't want to be a sole survivor, if the rest died in a massacre, he'd rather join them.
''Nice try, but Armin here is going nowhere. We're going to fight you, and we'll win the battle for the future of humanity.'' the owner of the footsteps said, and touched Armin's shoulder. 'Levi!' Armin thought, as he looked up, eyes shaken with fear. ''Don't be foolish, you'll be killed.'' the voice replied, but Levi just shrugged. ''I'd rather die, than flee like a coward.'' he said, and Armin nodded heartfelt agreement.
Suddenly Armin was shaken awake, and he looked up, even though it was hard to see in the dark, ''Armin, are you alright?'' Eren's voice whispered, and Armin smiled, at hearing Eren's voice. ''I'm glad you're alive, Eren.'' he said, with a tiny voice. ''Ehr.., okay? I heard you screaming, and moaning a little, did you have a nightmare? Appearently you did have one, if you think I'm dead'' Eren whispered, and gently stroked Armin's forehead. Armin nodded, ''I did have one, but it's alright now.'' Armin said, while tears grew in his eyes, as he remembered the dream.
''Is it really? Because we can talk, if you want to.'' Eren whispered. ''Won't we disturb the others, if we talk too long. We can talk in the morning, and get some rest now.'' Armin replied, in a soft voice. ''Are you sure?'' Eren asked, and Armin nodded. ''Okay, we'll talk in the morning then.'' Eren said, and retreated to his bed. ''Sweet dreams, Eren'' Armin said, and then fell asleep again. This time, he dreamed more pleasantly.
Armin blinked his eyes a few times, he was back at the trial, again. It just ended, and a battered Eren was being supported by two Surveyors, as the crowd dispersed. ''Why am I back here again?'' Armin said, not fully understanding what was going on. It didn't make sense, he was through with the trial. Eren was fine, so it wasn't traumatic. ''Why do you think, Armin?'' Levi asked, as he walked towards him. ''Levi? That's not right, I followed you that time. You aren't even supposed to know my name.'' Armin said, while Levi approached him, and replied ''Armin, these dreams aren't meant to process the trial anymore. Don't you remember, this is where you spoke to me for the first time.'' as he motioned Armin to sit down. Armin took a seat, and Levi sat beside him. ''Then, why am I dreaming about this? These dreams are wearing me out!'' Armin said.
''Then tell me what is on your mind, for real. You only dream this, because there is something you'd like to share.'' Levi told him. Armin huffed before saying ''I think it's highly inappropriate to share such a thing, Sir'' Levi shrugged before saying, ''See if I care. I don't consider many things to be inappropriate, unless you're about to share a Titan fetish you've got.'' Armin sighed before saying, ''Fine, here goes nothing. Heichou, I mean, Levi, I think I have taken a liking to you.'' Armin didn't have the nerve to look at Levi's reaction, and so kept staring to the the ground. But soon enough, his chin was gently lifted, and Levi stared straight into his own ocean blue eyes.
''See, it isn't that hard. But to be quite honest, I am fancying you as well.'' Levi said, as he leaned in, and pressed his lips onto Armin's. Armin found himself shocked, but blissfully so. After the shock faded, he pressed back, and threw his arm over Levi's shoulders. Before things could take their natural course, however, Armin heard Connie's voice.
''Oi, Armin. Wake up!'' Connie called, and dragged Armin out of bed. A bewildered Armin stared at Connie, as he laid on the ground. ''What the hell, Connie?'' he said, as Connie grinned sheepishly. ''It's time for breakfast, so I woke you up, slightly later then the rest though. It seemed like you had a nice dream, who was the lucky girl?'' Connie asked. ''Ehr, what do you mean?'' Armin asked. ''You were kissing with your pillow, just now. Don't worry, I won't tell the rest, you little Casanova'' Connie told him, ''Now hurry up. Breakfast is over in half an hour, and Mikasa wanted to leave to save your arse from whatever was keeping you up.'' ''Thanks Connie, I'll be on my way.'' Armin grumbled, and Connie left the room.
Armin got dressed, combed his hair and hurried to the mess hall, so he had some time left for breakfast. He spotted a tired Ymir, grumbling about plates, and cleaning them while some midget was watching her. He figured she had had a weird dream as well. ''Don't worry, Levi doesn't return until this afternoon. He's guiding Annie and Bertholdt to the MP, so they can train there.'' Eren said, understanding what Ymir was going on about. ''Well, I'm going to miss them.'' Reiner said, and most among them nodded in understanding. ''How come you're so late, Armin?'' Sasha asked, Mikasa gave Armin a worried look. ''I was lost in a nice dream, and didn't hear the rest as they got up. It's a good thing Connie woke me up, or else I would probably still be sleeping.'' Armin told her.
Soon they were done with breakfast, and Erwin gave them their orders. Sasha had to scrub the floor, along with Connie and Mikasa. Eren and Armin had to do the dishes, and Ymir, Krista and Reiner had to brush the horses. When the rest of the cadets had left for their duty, Eren and Armin started to gather the used plates. ''So, what was it about?'' Eren suddenly asked. ''Huh?'' Armin replied, as he stared in confusion at his best friend. ''Your nightmare, what was it about?'' Eren repeated...
When the chores had been handed out, Levi left with Annie and Bertholdt. They mounted their horses, and headed towards the headquarters of the MP. Levi took the lead, while Bertholdt and Annie followed, chatting quietly. ''Does Reiner know when he has to start the attack?'' Annie whispered, and Bertholdt nodded. ''Once we are further away, but just far enough to retreat faster then this midget, we shift into Titan form. Reiner will be able to see us from this distance, so that's the moment he changes into the armored Titan'' he whispered back. Just as Annie was about to reply, Levi turned his head around, and shouted, ''Oi, pick up the pace, we haven't got the entire day!'' and then rode a little faster. Bertholdt and Annie smirked as they followed his lead.
Meanwhile in the kitchen: ''Well.., it was frightening. At first I was in this dark, empty corridor, I could hardly see a thing. Then I suddenly heard a voice and found you, severely wounded. You died in my arms, and, out of nowhere, two voices started talking to me.'' Armin told, as they carried the plates to the kitchen, and dumped them into the tub. ''Sounds scary.'' Eren said, checking the temperature of the water in the huge pan that hung over the fire. ''That was just the start. After the voices started talking, which was horrible, the lights turned on, and I saw every one of you dead. I lost hope, but..,'' Armin hesitated, asking himself whether he should continue or not.
Levi and the two cadets had gotten quite far when Levi suddenly slowed the pace and stopped. ''Something wrong?'' Bertholdt asked, as Annie eyed Levi suspiciously. ''You really must be idiots if you don't think I'm onto your plan.'' Levi told them, as he drew his sword. ''What do you mean?'' Annie asked, in a harsh tone. This wasn't according to plan, and there was just no way Levi could know about their identities. ''First of all, I did have my suspicions about you, the second you disappeared when the female titan attacked'' Levi said, as he pointed at Annie. ''I've got to admit, it was a nice act when you pretended to be in shock after you were found. But after you were found, Hannah and Franz were send to the place the attack had occured, to see if there was that much of a treath. Guess what, they didn't find anything but Titan foot prints. And I'm not deaf, or stupid. I overheard you talking earlier. So, you really think one Titan could defeat the entire corps, while I'm fighting with you, think again.'' Levi said, attaching the wires of his 3DM gear to a nearby tree.
''Then what? Tell me, Armin'' Eren said, as he poured hot water on the dishes, and added a little cold water, before he started scrubbing them. ''Eren, the content of the nightmare isn't really important. What does count is the meaning it has.'' Armin told him, as he started drying a plate Eren handed him. ''What are you talking about?'' Eren asked, washing another plate. ''Eren, the dreams I had lately, including the nightmare, made me realise that I fell in love with someone.'' Armin replied, with a blush present on his cheeks. Eren's mouth fell open, then he said in an excited voice, ''That's great Armin. So, who's the lucky girl?''
''Ehr, thing is Eren, the one I fell in love with is..,'' Once again Armin hesitated, before continuing ''Ah, screw it. Eren, I'm in love with Levi.'' Armin said. Eren gasped, and dropped one of the plates he was about to hand Armin, it crashed loudly on the floor. ''You're what!'' Eren exclaimed, not caring one bit about the broken plate. ''I'm in love with Levi.'' Armin repeated in an excited tone. He never said it before, it felt so right to be able to say it out loud.
Annie narrowed her eyes, as Bertholdt laughed. ''That was very clever, but, yes, we do think Reiner is able to handle the situation for the time being. After all, it's two against one.'' he said and bit on his hand, before turning into the 50-foot Titan. Annie followed his example, and Levi jumped up, as he aimed for Annie's head. Bertholdt jumped in front of her, caught Levi, and Annie's foot stomped down on the horses. Levi's eyes widened as he planted his sword in the Titan's fingers. Bertholdt, or rather, the 50-foot Titan let out a scream, as smoke came boiled out of his hand. Once again, Levi attached his 3DM gear onto something, that something being Annie, and aimed for her head again. She took her fighting stance and chrashed her fist against Levi, who landed on the ground. He coughed, brushed himself of and said; "I'll think you'll find it's two against ten. How do you like those odds?" Before letting out a piercing whistle. Nine more members of the corps, who had lain in hiding, appeared out of the underbrush, and charged.
''WHAT THE HELL, ARMIN? DID YOU HIT YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU FAINTED! You do realise you're talking about that cleaning midget, right?'' Eren exclaimed. Armin groaned, before rolling his eyes, he should've expected Eren would react like this. Eren was known for being impulsive, blurting out whatever crossed his mind, without thinking. ''That is not a nice thing to say. And I didn't hit my head, I'm really fond of Levi. Can't you be happy for me, Eren?'' he asked.
Eren's face turned an interesting shade of red, as he was about to shout something, but then Hanji came in. ''Ah, Armin. The meeting about the strategy has been postponed, Levi is taking longer taking Annie and Bertholdt to the MP then expected. It'll be three o' clock before we gather, I hope you don't mind.'' she said. Armin shook his head, and wanted to say he didn't mind, but before he could, they heard a loud crash, and then agonized yells. Followed by a terrified scream; ''TITAN ATTACK!''
All of them ran and grabbed their 3DM gear, before heading outside, only to see the armored Titan and Mikasa battle. ''What happened?'' Eren asked, and Ymir replied, ''It's Reiner, he's the armored Titan.'', before activating her 3DM gear to support Mikasa. ''Reiner...'' Armin said, dazed, as Eren cursed. Before Eren had any time to react, Armin's expression turned into an angry one, as he attached his gear to a building, lunged towards Reiner, mananging to cut his shoulder deeply. ''YOU BASTARD!'' he screamed. Reiner was taken aback for a moment. Even though he became a titan, he did regonize Armin, who wasn't behaving as he usually did. Nevertheless, he grabbed Armin, making Mikasa and Eren gasp. Just then the other Titans arrived, causing even more of a panic.
Bertholdt observed the situation, their objectives Ymir and Eren didn't go down without a fight, and he knew he couldn't remain a Titan much longer. The fact that he was this tall came with a prize. He would weaken, and lose the strength he did possess rather fast. Annie had recieved a lot of damage recently, and Reiner was bleeding. This wasn't what they had planned at all! Especially since they had the advantage of a surprise attack. Suddenly he spotted the smirk on Commander Erwin's face as he ordered the members of the Survey around.
'Those bastards! They saw it coming' Bertholdt figured, and motioned to Reiner to stop the attack. Most of the Surveyors were attacking Annie, since they had fought against her before. And Bertholdt's Titan form began to smoke, signalling his body was going back to it's human shape. Reiner cursed, as Armin had drawn his sword, and cut deeply into the hand that held him. 'We're going to have to retreat' he decided, as he tried to grab Ymir. But before he could, Christa pushed her out of the way, and Reiner grabbed her instead. He headed towards the collapsing body of Bertholdt, who shed the remains and jumped onto his shoulder, then Reiner ran away.
''Armin!'' Mikasa and Eren yelled, as Ymir called out for Christa, but before they could attack Reiner, Annie knocked away some of the Surveyors, and stood before them. She heard the approach of someone using 3DM gear from behind her, and turned around just as Jean, who had returned, yelled, ''You bitch!'' and cut her throat. It started gushing blood, and the Titan crashed to the ground, leaving nothing but Annie herself.
''Annie!'' everyone yelled in surprise, even as she was being restrained by Erwin. Mikasa stepped forward, slapping her hard in the face. Annie said nothing, but stared daggers at Mikasa. ''I knew it! I knew you were a traitor!'' Mikasa yelled, as Annie kept staring. Ymir stepped forward as well. ''Where are they going with my Christa!'' she yelled, and Annie grinned. ''Does it really matter? Can't you guys see this world is doomed! Our fate is to die, we can't defeat the Titans.'' she said, and Mikasa hit her again. ''That's bullshit!'' a voice interrupted, and they turned around to see Levi, covered in dirt and blood. ''As long as we can fight, there's hope. If you believe humanity will lie down and give up, you're a fool.'' he grabbed his sword, and held it against her throat. ''But if it doesn't matter, you won't mind me slitting your throat. But before I do, you can tell me where your buddies went.'' Annie's eyes widened, then became dull again. ''Go ahead, kill me. It won't help you save Armin and Christa.''
''Where are our friends!'' Eren demanded, as Annie looked to him. ''Like hell I'm going to tell you, but I can tell you this, Ymir is one of us too.'' she said. ''I'll not have you sow suspicion!'' Levi told her, and slit her troat. Then Ymir coughed, and everyone turned their attention to her. ''Ehrr..., Levi... She was lying about me being part of their schemes, but, like Eren, I'm a Titan shifter.'' she said.