Chapter 7 rest little baby
Eren silently cried to himself as he and Snowball knelt by Armin's bedside. They were back at Eren's house and it was morning now. "Why him.?" Eren thought. "Why the fuck him!?Why the fuck did this horrible thing have to happen to him of all people!?" He sobbed holding Armin's cold very moment he had brought Armin back to his house, he broke down completely over what had become of his friend. He thought back to the very last time he saw Caroline. "I should have known then..I should have known something was wrong then just from how she was smiling! "
"I could have done something to help you" Eren whispered to the silent doll." Had I caught on to what those bitches were doing to you you'd probably still be a human!" He sobbed crying even harder now. He hadn't cried this much since his mother passed away from breast cancer two years ago. After Carla had died, Eren had discovered her will stating that should she ever leave this Earth first before Eren did, then her money, the deed to her house, and all of it's contents be passed on to Eren. So the house was rightfully his now. It wasn't as luxurious as Armin's place was but it was still very nice.
Armin's body currently laid deactivated in Carla's queen sized bed. The blankets and comforter were nice and snug over his body, and his pillows were fluffed around his head, making him look like Sleeping Beauty. Ever since Eren had put him in his mother's room Armin stayed dead and silent as a doll. He had noticed the wind up key sticking out of his back, but was very hesitant to activate him.
There was absolutely no telling what state of mind the doll would be in upon waking up."what if he doesn't wake up at all?" Eren thought looking over to the blonde. But on the other hand.." I would give anything just to see him moving..just once more.." Realizing he had nothing else to lose, he carefully turned Armin over and turned his key until it couldn't turn no more.
He then sat back and waited..prayed for anything to happen. A moment later, the sound of light machinery could be heard in the room as Armin slowly started to sit up. Eren's eyes widened with joy as Armin turned to look at him."Eren.." Armin croaked as tears filled his eyes. "Armin!" Eren cried tackling the doll on the bed. Eren wrapped his arms around his friend tightly in a strong embrace as Armin just broke down completely into his shoulder.
"Shhh it's okay now Armin I'm here" Eren cried rubbing the back of the doll's head."I'm here now Armin..I'm here" he repeated rocking him Back and forth like a baby."you're going to be okay now.. I promise "
Xxxsix months laterxxx
During the time Armin had lived with Eren, he found himself slowly coming to come to terms with his fate. Despite the whole disturbing horrificness of it all, he had found that there were indeed some advantages to being a doll. Like his mother said, he couldn't get Ill no matter how cold it got. And apparently he was indestructible with his new body as well. Armin found this out the hard way by accidentally tripping and falling down Eren's stairs which resulted in a leg being painlessly popped out of his socket.
Hearing Armin shrieking and freaking out over this Eren and Snowball had went to go see what was wrong. Eren nearly fainted at the dismembered limb but got even more freaked out when he watched Armin's leg silently drag itself like a magnet towards Armin and pop itself back in place as if it never happened."dude..what the fuck?.. " Eren wondered in both horror and awe. "I-i don't even know myself Eren.." Armin sighed. "But Atleast I know i can heal myself now right?" He said attempting to smile at the situation.
Another thing they found out was that even though Armin was now a doll, he was still perfectly capable of eating people food and going potty. Like really, he could eat as much as he want and he would not get any fatter! Also, because he was a doll he could go for long periods of time without food and not starve. He also noticed that no matter how long he went without a bath his body would still somehow be squeaky clean and he would always wake up with minty fresh breath in the morning.
Even his teeth stayed a godly white for some reason. Whether if this was due to some creepy self cleaning magic his mother put on him in the doll making process, or what he didn't other day out of the whole week he'll take a bath just so he wouldn't gather dust. There were a few drawbacks to being a living doll though. Mostly because most people aren't accustomed to see a giant walking, talking doll roam about in public. So because of this he never stepped foot outside since he been here, and this made him deeply sad. Another thing was that every few hours or so, he had to be wound up or he would turn off.
Seeing as it was a beautiful day out He decided to have Armin get sone fresh air. Armin loved the outdoors."how can I go out Eren?" Armin asked looking at Eren. "Look at me.." He said looking down at his body. Ever since he became a doll he's been extremely self conscious about how he looked. "Hey it's okay, you can still make a passable human, just got to cover your limbs" Eren said handing him a fresh pair of clothes. A black and green Sailor suit with black and green striped stockings that could easily conceal his balljointed parts.
"Do you really think it will work?" Armin asked."I know it will!" Eren replied smiling. "Please Armin? For me atleast?"Armin gave it a bit of thought before finally agreeing."Okay Eren " Armin nodded trying his best to give him a genuine smile."I'll give it a try " and just like that the two friends went out strolling through town.
The trick seemed to be working. Nobody could tell that Armin was a doll. "Eren was right!" Armin smiled holding Eren's hand."they really think I'm human! " he was so glad he gave this idea a chance. Eren led Armin into their favorite candy store where they ended up overhearing some pretty disturbing gossip.
"Didn't you hear about what happened to that doll maker up in the woods?" One customer whispered. "You mean the really pretty one with the boobs?" Another customer replied. "Yeah..word has it her whole place had burned down!" Armin trembled a bit when he heard this.
"oh my God really?I was going to order a nice china doll from her for my daughter... Did she escape?" The first man ask. The second man shook his head. "Unfortunately no..her and her maid perished in the flames, but it's unknown what happened to her little boy..chances are he probably died along with her in the flames too..poor boy." Just the mere memory of his mother was beginning to make Armin feel very nauseous.
Sensing Armin's discomfort Eren quickly ordered a bag of chocolates, and a lollipop for them and quietly led the disturbed doll out of there."pay no attention to them.." He said handing him some chocolate. "Are you okay?" He asked."I'll be fine Eren..really" Armin replied turning to Eren and popping a piece in his mouth. Some time later while two boys were sitting in the park happily talking and enjoying there treats they had noticed a little toddler walking towards the middle of the street.
Her mother was busy talking to someone on a nearby payphone as this was happening. "Holy shit!" Eren cursed in alarm as he watched an oncoming pick up truck coming toward even thinking Armin had immediately ran towards the girl and pushed her out of the way.
BAM!
Eren gasped as he watched a bundle of arms and legs fly everywhere like a bunch of bowling pins. "ARMIN!" Eren screamed running towards the male."ugh.." Armin groaned as felt his limbs being popped back into place."oh my God Armin!" Eren cried. "Are you okay!?" He said lifting the boy back on his wobbly feet."I'm indestructible now remember Eren? I think I'll be okay.." Armin grunted cracking his neck.
The little girl who was saved by Armin looked at Armin in awe scurrying towards him now."DOLLY!" The girl smiled pointing to Armin. This had caused a whole bunch of onlookers to stare and point at Armin in fear now. The girl's mother immediately saw Armin and screamed in terror dragging her girl away from him"oh my God is it really a doll?" One woman said."what the fuck is that kid!?" A man shrieked."it really is a doll! Look! Look at the wind up key sticking out of his back!" Tears welled up in Armin's eyes as the confused frightened denizens continued to say all kinds of hurtful horrifying things.
"Kill it!"
"Monster!
"That just isn't natural!"
"How is it moving?!"
The person who had ran Armin over Stepped out of his pick up truck backing away from the crying doll in fear."S-stay away from me you monster!"He said. Eren shielded Armin blocking him from the townspeople. "SHUT THE HELL UP!" Eren shouted."CAN'T YOU SEE YOUR ALL HURTING HIM!? YOU PEOPLE ACT LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A FUCKING DOLL BEFORE!"
"That's no doll boy, that thing is some monstrosity from hell and it must be killed!" Another woman shot back. It was just as Armin had feared! "I should have never came here!" Armin thought to himself sobbing."I should have just died!" Getting up he quickly fled the scene leaving the distraught crowd and Eren behind. Eren then turned to the city folk and growled."FUCK You all!" He cursed through gritted teeth.
"Armin!" Eren screamed calling after him. "Armin!" He called again. It was no use, Armin was already long gone. "Shit!" Eren thought to himself."this is all my fault!" He cried looking everywhere for his friend. It was sunset before he finally found him in the forest near the creak they would always used to play near as kids. It woukd have been a beautiful sight really at this hour if it weren't for the poor blonde curled up near the edge of the creak sobbing and choking his eyes out.
Eren never felt so guilty and awful awful about anything in his life."I'm sorry.." Eren whispered crouching down next to the doll."fuck Armin, I'm so..so..sorry.." He said holding the sobbing doll. He would never forgive himself for making Armin go out in he not talked him into coming outside he'd still be safe and sound with Eren and Snowball at home and he wouldn't have gone through that bullshit!"I swear Armin this will never happen again!"
Eren's heart fell when Armin finally looked at him. His eyes..they looked almost broken and empty with tears leaking out of them. It was a pitiful sight. He truly looked like a frail old doll now. "Eren?.." Armin asked quietly. "C-can you do something for me?" He croaked. "Yes..anything" Eren said nodding his head and looking at Armin."but before I tell you what it is I want you to do you have to swear that you'll do it no matter what" Eren hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded his head."okay Armin..I promise" he replied.
"Leave me here" Armin replied. Eren was taken aback by this request ."w-what!? " Eren croaked fresh tears coming to his eyes."Leave me here" Armin repeated."I want you to yank out my wind up key, leave my body here..and never come looking for me again.. " he finished. "No.." Eren trembled with his tears flowing over now."NO I WON'T DO THAT! I- I'LL HELP YOU! I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU FOR NOW ON! IM NOT LEAVING YOU-"
"LOOK AT ME!" Armin screamed popping out of Eren's embrace and taking off his clothes now."TELL ME EREN, HOW THE FUCK AM I EVER GOING TO REALLY LIVE A NORMAL LIFE LIKE THIS!?" He yelled gesturing to his body. Eren just stared at Armin, completely at a loss for words. You know shit has gotten real when Armin starts cussing."LET'S BE FUCKING REAL EREN! THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE WANT IT TO!" the enraged doll screamed.
"Armin.. Please.." Eren cried trembling now."I don't want to lose you!..you're my best friend and the only family I have left anymore..please don't make me do this.. "He cried grabbing and holding the doll against his chest. Poor Armin's dead heart broke at the sound of Eren crying like never heard or seen Eren cry like this before now." Please Armin!.." Eren sobbed clutching the Marionette even tighter to him."I love you.."
More tears quietly leaked from Armin's glittery blue eyes as he heard Eren's confession. "Eren.." Armin started. "For as long as I can remember I've always loved you" Eren continued."Even though you're a guy I've always thought of how much of a beautiful dork you were.. There were even times where I always fantasize about you being my bride..silly right?" Eren shook his head in Eren's shoulder."no Eren.." Armin replied. "It isn't silly..not at all.." He said.
"But if you really love me as much as you say Eren, then you'll let me go..I really don't want to spend life wandering around this Earth as a living doll" Armin said looking up at the other male now."please Eren?" He asked trying to put on a smile on for the brunette one last time."For me?" Eren stood silent for a moment before finally nodding his head. He had atleast owed Armin that much. nobody deserved to suffer like that.
"Thank you Eren" Armin smiled sadly."I'm going to miss you Armin" Eren sobbed."I'll miss you too Eren" Armin replied hugging the boy"Thank you for being my friend" Eren couldn't even look at what he was about to do. Closung his eyes, he silently trailed a hand from Armin's waist up to his back where his wind up key was located."I love you Armin" Eren repeated a final time pulling out the silver key. Armin slowly felt himself getting sleepy and shutting down."I L-Love...you...too" Armin replied with his voice box fading in and out. A moment later he fell limp and motionless in Eren's arms.
Eren sat there till dark crying and mourning the doll. Wanting to respect his friend's wishes though,he didn't activate him again. Instead he carried Armin's body back to his house, dressed him up in his pretty navy blue and white sailor outfit, grabbed a shovel, and went back to the very spot he found the doll crying at earlier. Setting Armin down on the ground for a moment, he started to dig a small shallow grave, big enough to hold someone Armin's size.
Once he did that, he carefully picked up Armin's body and placed the young man in there. He couldn't bring himself to completely bury Armin, so he had just placed some flowers in there with him and left the grave open. "Sweet dreams Armin" Eren croaked pecking the blonde on the forehead."hopefully you're happy now..and don't worry, I'll take good care of Snowball for you" he said getting up.
Taking one last look at Armin, he walked away from the doll's resting place. He never returned again..
Xxx35 years laterxxx
"Hm?" Armin wondered to himself waking up and looking around."where am I?" He thought. He was sitting up against a tree in the middle of the forest and it appeared to be daytime. His train of thought stopped however once he laid eyes on a little blonde girl. She looked no older than seven and she was wearing a messy bun, pink dress, and pink thong sandals."she's so cute!" Armin thought smiling.
"Hi..my name is Armin, thank you for waking me up" he said smiling shyly.
(A/N:well! I hope you've all enjoyed this prequel to "Her Pretty Marionette!" It really was fun writing out this little back story!and FYI I should let you all know the time line the two stories are supposed to be set in...
1956- Armin's born
1972-Armin dies/is turned into a doll
2007-Annie finds Armin in "HPM"
2015-current time in "HPM"
..Let that sink in people.. Armin is currently old enough to be Annie's DADDY in here! Congratulations, you have now learned a new disturbing fact . and with that being said, I will see you all later!)