(A/N): I wanted to wait until I was a little further on with my Eremin multi-chap to post this (because I've got way too many in progress being updated right now "") but the second season finished a little while ago...and I had this idea so I wrote it up.

I put it in with this oneshot because it wasn't quite long enough for it's own fic. So...

I hope you enjoyed it and I'd love to know what you thought! ^-^

(You can reblog this on my tumblr under the tag - tagged/turnupswrites if you feel like it \(o0o)/ Happy season 2!)

Till the Next Day

Eren had known Armin would be in the library. It was as though Armin had to return there every so often just to survive. Particularly after a Scouting Corps outing. It was like a ritual.

And he had to speak to Armin. That was his way of surviving after one of those outings. That was his ritual.

Sure enough, when Eren turned a corner into the library, he found that Armin was already buried in a huge tome.

He stepped forward, debating whether to sneak around and scare-

"Aren't you meant to be recovering?" Armin asked. He must have heard Eren approaching. He always heard Eren.

Then again, Eren wasn't exactly a quiet person.

"Why? I've got my hands back," Eren replied, show his newly regenerated pair. "That's what matters."

Armin shook his head, but there was a smile was creeping across his face. A 'typical Eren,' smile that he never tired of.

"You still need your rest," he said.

Eren shrugged, and chanced a step forward.

"I don't want to sit in a bed waiting, Armin," he said.

An understanding look crossed Armin's face, and he gave a small sigh.

"Now you can sit in here and wait," he said. He only sounded slightly bitter.

"At least in here I have you," Eren said. He flashed a smile at Armin. A smile he knew was crooked and would make-

Sure enough, Armin turned away so that his hair shielded his face moments later.

Eren wanted to laugh. He wanted to cry. Everything was so normal. They were all back to normal.

But it was a facade. A forced show between the pair of them.

They had learnt it from the adults. To only discuss what happened on the field in their reports. Maybe it was supposed to make them feel better. Out of sight, out of mind. But it didn't keep Eren from seeing their faces every time he closed his eyes. Bert, Reiner, Ymir, Hannes, the Smiling Titan. The nightmares about the Smiling Titan had only just begun to ebb, but now it was back in full force. Like he was ten again.

He had to talk about it. But he didn't know how.

"How are you doing?" Armin asked, flicking a page of his book. "You know - aside from getting your hands back - which I'm sure Commander Erwin is jealous of."

There was the familiar twinge of guilt in Eren's stomach. He swallowed, and his throat was sore.

"I'm…" Eren shrugged, crossing over to Armin's chair. "Coping, I guess."

He rested his hands on the back of the chair. His eyes on the line of pink between Armin's collar and his hair. When Armin was reading like this, Eren could see the small freckle there. To the left of Armin's spinal cord. A place Eren had kissed many times and refused to tell Armin why.

He had needed to see Armin. He had needed to see Armin here. To regain some sense of normalcy. Because he had been scared he'd never see any of his friends again and the thought of losing Mikasa - and Armin - was unbearable. Unthinkable.

But it was all he could think about. In his dreams - he saw them over and over.

So he had needed this. Armin was alive.

"I didn't really think about it," he said, turning his attention back to the conversation.

"Not even whilst you were waiting for us?" Armin asked, half turning.

"I wasn't waiting!" Eren said. "I was - planning an escape - you just - came too quickly."

"Yeah," Armin said, he turned away again and Eren knew he was smiling. "Of course."

"Which was dangerous," Eren said, wrapping his arm's around Armin from behind, and squeezing him to make him squeal. "And you shouldn't have risked everything for me."

"Don't be ridiculous Eren," Armin leant into Eren's arms, bending his head back so that their eyes could meet. "I would risk the whole world to get you back."

"I wouldn't be worth it," Eren said. He went to pull his arms away, but Armin gripped them against him.

"Eren; what would I have without you?" Armin asked. His cheeks warmed, and he turned back to his book in an effort to hide it. "Besides, stepping outside the front door is dangerous, might as well be rescuing you."

"Many scouts died to get me back," Eren said. It came out too casually. As though he was discussing the weather. Surely his voice should have cracked. When did that become so normal for them?

Armin didn't move. For a moment, Eren wasn't sure if he had even heard him.

The reply came slowly.

"They knew the risks," he said. "We all did, when we signed up."

"Do you think Erwin would have sent all those scouts out if it was someone else?" Eren asked. The words seemed to ready on his tongue. Too spiteful. "If it was Connie, or-"

"Me?"

It hadn't been what Eren was going to say.

But it had been what he was thinking.

"No, I don't think he would," Armin answered his own question. Too casually. When had his life become so... "But I know which scout legion would practically mutiny against him if he didn't."

That's not the same, though, is it?

Eren sighed, and placed his forehead on the top of Armin's head. Why couldn't Armin say what he wanted to say? Why didn't he know what he wanted Armin to say?

"I heard Erwin say it," Eren said. He had to. To try to carve the guilt out of him. "There can be no future for humanity without Eren."

"You know what Erwin's like," Armin replied. "He likes a dramatic speech."

"Do you believe it?" Eren asked.

No reply.

"Armin, do you believe it?" Eren pressed.

"Maybe," Armin's voice was small.

Eren pulled away, and Armin stood.

"Eren, no one else can do what you do-" Armin said. He wasn't looking at Eren.

"Do you know what it's like?" Eren snapped, turning on him. "To have all that pressure on your shoulders?! To know that - everyone expects me to just be able to do this and - it's hard! I didn't have a say in this! Any of it! You think I don't want to be normal sometimes?"

Armin flinched at his tone. He was staring at the book, his fists clenched at his sides.

"You think any of us had a say in this?" Armin asked. His voice was quiet. Dangerously quiet.

"You don't know what it's like," Eren said. Yelled. It didn't make him feel better..

"No, Eren, I don't," Armin said. "I don't know what it's like to be a titan shifter. I don't know what it's like to have Commander Erwin say that about me. But I do know what it's like to have people looking at you like that. I know what it's like when people expect you to find a way out of everything."

Eren stared at him. He wanted to argue more - shout more - but he couldn't think of the words.

He just felt more -

"I'm sorry," Armin said. "But we're all dealing with shit right now, Eren. You might feel all this pressure, but the rest of us just feel useless."

"You're not useless," Eren said.

Armin shook his head.

"We're expendable," he said. "Like you said; everyone's lives were at risk and Commander Erwin never gave it a second thought. We're just…nameless, faceless soldiers."

Eren sighed. He was still mad. Still upset.

But Armin's face was pale, and his hands were shaking slightly.

"You're not," Eren said. He gripped Armin's shoulders. Then thought better of it, and cupped his face instead. "Not to me."

Armin's eyes closed. His mouth twisted, and he placed his hands over Eren's.

"I can't believe we're playing a game of who has it worse," he whispered. "When we're the ones alive."

"The livings are the ones with the trouble," Eren said. "Let's agree that we're both going through hell. And my shit doesn't make your shit more important."

Armin gave a weak smile.

"Your shit doesn't make my shit less important," Armin said.

Eren couldn't wrap his head around that one, but he knew the emotion, and wrapped Armin in a tight hug, placing his chin on the top of Armin's head. He felt Armin's nose against his chest, and the smaller boy held him in a death grip.

"Damn, we're really 'coping', huh?" Eren muttered.

Armin pulled away, enough to wipe his eyes with the heel of his palm. Eren blinked, noticing that his own lashes were damp.

"I know you said you weren't thinking about it, but it was all I could think about," Armin said. "Eren, I was so scared I'd never see you again - and then Bert - and - Reiner - and - is Hannes really-"

Eren nodded.

Armin swallowed, a strange noise coming from his throat.

"And Jean was - so still - but alive - and I was holding him but - I was so - certain - that was the end and I wouldn't see - you - or - anyone - and-"

"I know," Eren said. He pressed his forehead against Armin's. He was finding it hard to speak. But he wasn't crying. "I know, I couldn't - I couldn't titan shift. I could only - scream."

He was sure he wasn't crying.

"Screaming is what you're good at," Armin said, a watery smile appearing on his face. "And you're screaming kind of saved us after all."

"We worked together," Eren said.

Armin gave another weak smile, brushing his thumb across Eren's cheekbone. As light as a feather. A tear wobbled on the pad of Armin's thumb, then trickled down it.

"We are still alive, aren't we?" Armin asked. His eyes searched Eren's like he was unsure.

His eyes were so blue. Practically a sky. Was the sea like that?

"We're still alive," Eren said. "I'm still going to get you to the ocean."

Surely even the sea couldn't be so blue.

Armin brushed the damp from Eren's other cheek and sniffed.

"Just get me through to tomorrow," Armin said. His nose nudged Eren's like he was about to kiss him.

"I'll get you through to tomorrow, I promise," Eren said. He pressed his mouth against Armin's. When he opened his eyes, he could only see a blur of blue. "And the day after. And the day after. And the day after."

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves," Armin said, with a breathy chuckle.

Eren kissed him again, their noses bumping against each other's. Armin's was cold, and his cheeks were damp.

"I still can't quite believe it," Armin said. He leant back slightly, to rest on the table, his hands on the back of Eren's neck. At the last curls of his hair. "Bert and Reiner, you know…"

Eren closed his eyes, his hands on Armin's waist.

"I know," he said. "That's one of the things I'm trying not to think about."

"How's that going?" Armin cocked his head to one side, a knowing smile on his face.

"About as well as trying not to think about our imminent deaths," Eren said.

"Yeah," Armin said. "I know the feeling."

They both took a deep breath, staring at each other.

"Jeez," Eren sighed after a while. "We're all having our existential crises so early."

"But I don't feel young," Armin said. "Not any more. I can't imagine being Captain Levi's age. I can only imagine now."

Eren raised his eyebrows. He understood.

"Everyone's saying we're just kids, but on the other hand," Eren took a breath. "We're weapons."

His thumbs rubbed small circles on Armin's back, and Armin stroked the back of Eren's hair. Were it was fluffy and slightly matted because he forgot to comb it - with all that had been happening.

"Reiner - Reiner kept saying crap about soldiers and warriors and a bunch of stuff I didn't get," Eren said. He was finding it had to breathe. To find the words. "But I can't get that shit out of my head."

Armin didn't have an answer. He just nodded, and took a deep breath.

"Don't concentrate on it," he said. "Just think about making it through to tomorrow."

"How?" Eren breathed. His fists clenched on Armin's shirt.

"Just - one breath at a time," Armin replied.

He leant up and kissed Eren. At the corner of his mouth, so that Eren turned to try to catch him.

"I believe in you, Eren," Armin said.

Eren pulled Armin's waist towards him and kissed his again. His lips missed Armin's more times than they collided, but that didn't matter. What mattered was it cleared his head. He only thought about Armin. And how cold Armin felt and the feeling of Armin's lips..

It was the only time he could shut his brain up.

He didn't know when they finally pulled away, but Armin was sat on the table, and he was bent over him.

And Armin was frowning slightly at him. His thumbs ran under Eren's eyes.

"You look tired," Armin said. "How much sleep have you been getting?"

"Like, an hour," Eren replied, his hands closing over Armin's. His palms were still so soft.

"You're lucky," Armin said. "I think Mikasa's been surviving on ten minutes and an inhuman amount of tea."

"So she drinks as much as Levi does?" Eren said. He leant into Armin's hands, and Armin smiled at him. An unconscious smile. The best kind of smile.

"Get some rest," Armin said. "I'll read and be here when you wake up."

The idea was tempting. More than tempting.

They found a corner of the library, and Armin plopped down with the huge book.

Eren sat next to him, resting his head on his shoulder. But, though idealistic, was not comfortable.

So instead Eren rested his head on Armin's naval like a child, one arm around Armin's stomach.

"Do you want me to sing you a lullaby too?" Armin asked. His fingers brushed Eren's hair away from his face. Again and again and again….

Eren shook his head. Seriousy.

"Lullabies remind me of home," he said.

And home was something they only wanted to be reminded of sometimes. This was not one of those times.

Armin nodded, and continued to stroke Eren's hair. He heard the sound of Eren turning a page in his book.

This was good. To hear Armin breathe. To feel the rise and fall of his stomach. To know that he was alive. They were both alive.

It was easier to drift off when there was a rhythm. Something to concentrate on. Instead of -

Reiner. Reiner's icy eyes piercing into him. The pure rage. Realising he had no arms. That sickening feeling. The fury. Reiner's eyes. Bert's eyes. Ymir's…Armoured titan. Titans everywhere. Titan's eyes. Mikasa's eyes - there should have been hope - but Mikasa's eyes were scared. Terror. Hannes - Hannes' scream. Hannes' blood. Mikasa's smile. Titan eyes. Horror. Helplessness.

A spot of blood on Mikasa's cheek.

It looked so beautiful. Red on brown. Light brown skin. The colour of cinammon. The droplet listening in the sunlight.-

Mikasa screaming. Armin screaming. Eren screaming. Everything screaming and the world was red and titan's eyes - eyes everywhere - eyes on him-

A hand on his face!

Eren snapped upright, and there was a muffled yell above him.

He found himself face to face with Armin, who was cradling a red nose.

"You were starting to whimper," Armin said, his voice muffled behind his hand.

"It - it was the usual," Eren said.

Armin nodded. His book had been discarded.

"You're here," Armin said. "You're with me. We're alive."

Not 'it's okay'. No one ever said 'it's okay' after a nightmare now.

"Yeah," Eren forced himself to nod. To swallow. To breathe. "We're alive."

"And we'll make it through to tomorrow," Armin said.

He laid a hand over Eren's. Eren's shaking hand. It looked so dark next to Armin's. Armin was a porcelian doll.

So easily breakable. They were all so easily-

He forced his mind away. To focus on Armin. On Armin's lips and Armin's eyes.

"We'll make it to the ocean," Eren said.

He had wanted to see Armin smile. To grin at him.

He recieved a ghost of a smile. Armin's fingers twitched over his own.

"Just concentrate on tomorrow," he said.

Eren turned his hand over, linking his fingers into Armin's.

"Okay," he said. "I'll focus on tomorrow-" he gave Armin's fingers a light squeeze. "-And every day that we're together."

Armin did smile then. He leant forward and kissed Eren.

"Go back to sleep, sweetheart," he said. "I'll be here when you wake up."

Eren lay back down. And listened to Armin breathing. And felt Armin's stomach rise and fall.

And tried not to think about anything at all.