"Eren? Is that you?"

Eren was sitting in one of the beds with a nurse tending to some wounds. "Yeah. Hi."

"What happened?!" Armin asked incredulously, "we literally just saw you just five minutes ago!"

"It was an accident," Eren muttered, "I accidentally ran into Jean while he was testing out another guy's 3D maneuvering device…"

"In the span of five minutes?" Christa questioned, "How is that even possible?"

"Well, he ran into me. But I kinda was in the way…"

Armin just shook his head. "You're something else, Eren. Remember that."

"Thanks, I will," Eren replied with a roll of his eyes.

Another nurse came up to the three. "Are you two just visiting, or is another one of you injured?"

Christa looked like she just remembered something. "Oh yeah! Armin might have a concussion!"

"And a broken rib or two," Armin admitted, now feeling immense pain in his abdomen.

The nurse nodded. "Let's sit you down and get you all patched up, okay?"

Armin nodded and sat down on the bed next to Eren.

"I'm going to head back, okay?" Christa said, kissing Armin on the cheek.

"Okay," Armin responded with a smile, "I'll see you later."

When Christa left, Eren began to laugh uncontrollably.

"What?" Armin asked, confused.

"It seems she shares your interest in turtles."

Armin felt his face flush. "Am I ever going to live that down?"

"No," was Eren's blunt reply. "I won't let you."

Armin sighed. "I seriously need to find out what a turtle is."

"So that's what a turtle is!" Armin said, his nose in his book, "I knew I read of it in here!"

"It looks so cute!" Christa exclaimed, "Especially the sea ones!"

Armin decided to share with Christa his most prized possession-the book about life beyond the walls. Christa promised not to tell anyone, and he just couldn't resist the little puppy eyes she gave him when he refused.

"Please?" Christa pleaded, "I swear on my life I won't tell anyone! Not even Ymir!"

Armin looked away. "It's illegal. I don't want you to get in trouble!"

Christa's eyes widened and she looked like she was fending off tears. "You…don't trust me?"

"N-no! That's not it at all!" Armin exclaimed, shaking his head. "I just don't…"

A tear fell down Christa's cheek. "…like me?"

Armin almost cried himself. "No! I-I like you a lot! I…"

Christa wiped her eyes and sniffed. "It's okay…I guess…"

So that's how they ended up sitting alone on a hill overlooking a meadow, looking through Armin's book.

"It says here some turtles are so big, you can ride on them!" Armin explained in awe, "but it isn't recommended because of how slow they actually move."

"It's the same thing with the snakes with arms," Christa said, pointing at an illustrated picture of a lizard.

"Those are called Galapagos Lizards. They live on a far away island near a place once known as The Galapagos Islands."

Christa looked off into the distance. "I'd like to see that someday."

Armin sighed. "Maybe…"

"What's wrong?"

"What?"

"You looked sad," Christa said, "Does…it have to do with the islands?"

Armin shook his head. "Just…the outside world in general."

Christa laid her head on Armin's shoulder. "What happened?"

Armin contemplated telling her. About his parents-or lack thereof-and what happened.

"…Armin?"

He nodded to himself. If he can trust her with his book, then he can trust her with this.

"My…my parents tried to go outside the walls."

"Were they apart of the Scout regiment?" Christa asked, shifting to look up at him.

"No," Armin replied, "They weren't. They…they wanted to see far, far beyond the wall. Farther than any of the scout missions would ever go."

"And did they?"

Armin looked away, a subtle pain aching in his chest. "I wish I knew."

Christa sat back up. "You mean they…"

"…left me behind," Armin finished, fighting tears. "I don't know whether they died or if they found paradise. Probably both."

Christa gave him a condescending look. "I…I'm sorry…"

"For what?" Armin asked, "It's not your fault. They knew what they were getting into when they left-"

Armin felt his throat constrict, and he let out a small sob.

Christa wrapped her arms around him. "Well you have Eren, Mikasa, me-heck, the entire 104th regiment! Also, the rest of the scouts are with you! We're all family, and we won't abandon you. At least, I won't. And I know Eren and Mikasa for a fact won't either."

Armin hugged her back. "Thank you."

"I'm your girlfriend. It's the least I can do."

Armin smiled to himself. He has a family.

…and a girlfriend.

When Christa had first said it, Armin hadn't fully comprehended it. He had even went as far as to think it was just his imagination.

However, today would prove him wrong.

"Hey Armin!"

Armin had been walking from martial arts training to the kitchen with Jean when he received a tackle hug from behind.

"H-hi Christa!" Armin replied, hugging her back, "Jean and I are heading to the kitchen, you want to come?"

"Sure!" Christa said, nodding, "I'm hungry anyway."

"What…what is this?"

Armin turned back to a laughing Jean. "You…you have a girlfriend? I'm proud!"

"Well…" Armin didn't know how to respond. He really wanted it to be true, but he wasn't sure if it was. Plus, he didn't want to deny it, because if it was he'd hurt Christa's feelings, and he'd probably die if he saw her cry again-especially if it wasn't fake.

Christa had already replied for him. "Yes he does. Are you jealous?" She asked, laughing good-naturedly.

Jean raised an eyebrow. "No…but seriously, good job man. Who would have guessed even someone like you can find love?"

Armin's face burned. "Y-yeah…"

Jean patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. You guys will be fine." After a pause, he got a sly grin on his face. "I actually need to get…uh…something from my room, so I'll meet you two there."

He didn't wait for a response as he went to the opposite direction.

Armin sighed. He seemed to be expecting something to happen, but they were just going to walk to the kitchen together.

Once again, he'd be proven wrong.

Fun fact-This story was the original beginning of "Paradise Lost", a fic that is under massive revision because reasons.

A-anyway, my OTP was originally Armin x Christa, and Paradise Lost was originally going to be a Annie-bashing fic until I got to the actuall bashing part and decided "I actually like you...and Armin...shit." However, I couldn't edit this properly to match Annie's personality which is the polar opposite of Christa, and I still get the fluffies from reading ChristArmin so I decided to upload it.

just incase you cared :D

Remember, Views are Cookies from Albertson's (they always taste great like seriously) , but Reviews are Homemade! (They may burn me but it's the thought that counts :D)