Eren running after the Titan.
Eren losing a leg as the maneuver gear malfunctioned slightly, allowing the Titan to sneak an appetizer.
Eren, bloody and exhausted.
He himself being grabbed, sliding down the monster's throat.
Eren being smashed into the roof.
Eren leaping once more to grab his hand, pulling him out and taking his place.
He shivered, remembering the cold sliminess of its tongue. Armin squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for Mikasa to punch him, smack him, do something. He opened his eyes after a few seconds, gasping.
Mikasa was completely frozen, her fingers clutching his inform for dear life. Her brown eyes were wide with astonishment, looking as if they were about to fall out of their sockets at any moment.
"Mikasa…?" Armin asked cautiously, his voice barely audible.
"E-eaten…" Mikasa whispered, more to herself then Armin.
"Mikasa, he did it to save me," Armin explained slowly, "in all honesty, I wanted him to stop-"
"Then why didn't you?!" Mikasa suddenly shrieked, "why didn't you stop him?!" Tears flowed down her cheeks as she pushed him away roughly. Armin gaped at her, blue eyes filled with what Mikasa could only descrybe as confusion or pain- probably a mix of both. Hanging his head, Armin let out a weak sob. Mikasa glared at him.
"Armin Alert!" she yelled, "why did you not stop him?!" She herself was quaking, trying her bet t keep from crying out loud, attract the attention of the other cadets. They probably wouldn't have heard her though. Only Armin. Armin and the Titan that happened to be closest to them at the time.
"Don't you think I tried?!" Armin broke, his shoulders wracked with sobs, "don't you think I fucking tried?" Mikasa took a step back, appalled. Armin had never spoken to her like that. Ever.
"Armin, i didn't-" she began.
"You didn't what, Mikasa?!" Armin cut her off, his face going red. Mikasa opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out, instead the terrified cries of those down below, being chased and devoured. Armin sent a trail of spit to his feet, saying coldly, "I thought so."
"Armin!" Mikasa shouted as he began to tug at his gear, "Armin, I'm sorry! it's just that Eren-"
"Eren is important to me as well, Mikasa, not just you!" Armin barked.
"I know that!" Mikasa wailed, "but Eren-"
"Eren what?!" Armin retaliated, "I just told you! He was eaten! I saw!" Armin shivered, reminiscent of the events. The blood.
Eren's arm getting chewed off.
Eren's arm sailing to the ground.
While they stood on the roof, multiple Titans rampages the town. One kicked over a building. Another smashed its face through a wall. Both the cadets could hear the screams of surprise and utter horror as the Titan then began to snap its jaw, tongue sweeping the inside like a broom on the floor. Out of the corner of his eye, Armin noticed something move.
"A shadow….?" he mumbled to himself. Mikasa tucked her black hair out of her face.
"What was that, Armin?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing!" he said with a shake of his head, his blue eyes trailing to the ground.
"But-"
"We should get off the roof now, Mikasa!" Armin said quickly, going to grab her hand. His fingers grazed hers as she pulled away. The shadows was getting closer, he noticed.
"No, Armin, tell me what you said!" Mikasa commanded. As the shadows grew bigger, Armin let himself follow it, nervous that he knew who was the owner.
And it probably wasn't Eren.
"Armin, we don't have all day- literally!" Mikasa groaned. Armin shook his head, now staring into the sky, straight at the sun, His eyes burned.
"No," he said, eerily calm, "we don't have all day….." Mikasa slapped her hands to his shoulders, gripping tightly. She thought her nails were going to rip the fabric of his coat if she dug into it anymore, her knuckles turning white.
"Armin!" she yelled in his face, her voice cracking.
"We need to get off the roof…." he said simply, still looking skyward. The shadow had now blocked out the sun, shrouding them in darkness. Mikasa was oblivious.
"Armin, the roof is the only safe place for us right now!" Mikasa explained, panic rising into her voice. Why was Armin acting so strangely?!
Armin was silent, his body beginning to quake. A fresh batch of tears dotted his eyes. But that was just like Armin. To cry in any given situation that was dangerous. Gently, Mikasa wiped away the tears for him.
"Armin- where is Eren?" she repeated for what seemed like the millionth time. She wasn't sure. Then again, she thought, you can't really be sure of anything anymore.
"We need to get off the roof…." rain said for the sixth or seventh time. She had lost count. He was still gazing in fear at what was behind them, what she hadn't noticed as the shadow crept over them, blocking out all the light, leaving them to scatter in the dark.
"Armin…..?" Mikasa trailed as she took his cue. Slowly, she turned, and was immediately frozen stiff at what she saw, her brown eyes just as wide as Armin's.
"You're right, Armin," she gulped, her voice almost inaudible, "we need to get off the roof."