Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Note: I'M BACK! Oh, I missed you guys so much. I got distracted by a whole bunch of fandoms, but all of a sudden I had so many plot ideas for SnK that I just had to write them.
I'll be so psyched if anyone actually reads this chapter, since I know I haven't updated in over a year (whoops...). I promise this is the last "set up" (in quotes, because important stuff happens in this chapter too) before the super-ultra-raging-event goes down and the whole story kicks in full force.
Ultimately, Armin decided to do nothing. He was still uncertain with his position on the ship and accusing a rescued sailor of treason with little proof would only strain his weak influence. He couldn't afford to have Captain Erwin angry with him, especially when he was so close to reaching his dream.
Instead, Armin settled to simply watch the sole survivor from a distance, worried she might recognize him if he strayed too close. Fortunately, the girl remained a model guest after her initially tumultuous welcome. Although she stayed below deck most of the day, Armin occasionally spotted her leaning on a rail, watching the sunset in the evenings.
She seemed completely harmless now, but Armin still couldn't forget the crafty glint he had seen a week earlier as the girl scanned his scattered maps and notes. Nor could he dismiss the girl's secret message, tossed overboard and lost in the waves.
Maybe it was something from a lost friend? Maybe whatever it was…it was just a personal memento or something?
Armin thought back to that night, the churning black waves and dark night.
It would be impossible to find the bottle again. She had to have known it would be swept away forever.
Convincing himself that the girl wasn't actually a suspicious traitor, Armin relaxed slightly. He was relieved that he hadn't gone to Captain Erwin with his baseless claims. It would have only made him look foolish.
As the boy crossed towards the entrance to their sleeping quarters, he spied the survivor staring intently at the endless, rolling waves. She tilted her head, pinning Armin briefly in her narrowed gaze before returning to her silent vigil.
Armin mashed his lips into a thoughtful pucker.
It looked like she was watching for something.
Or someone.
When Captain Erwin announced that they were stopping at the Stohess main port for supplies and a well-deserved rest, Armin was overjoyed. Not only would he have the chance to purchase new maps, but the survivor would be dropped off on land to give a testimony of her ordeal to the naval authorities. No matter if she was a spy or traitor, the girl would be gone within a few hours, unable to put the Freedom in any more danger.
Although he normally enjoyed the cozy, solitude of his navigation cabin, the blond was unable to handle the silence and close confines of the decorated walls. Without anything to do, he slipped out of the door and carefully pulled it closed behind him. He had fashioned a rudimentary lock out of spare parts left over from Hanji's experiments; he still wasn't sure who he could trust.
Armin decided to visit Eren and Mikasa, who were waiting above deck to see the ship dock for the first time. He was excited for the sight as well and felt disappointed when someone called his name behind him, no doubt with some assignment.
"Arlert."
Armin turned and straightened in surprise when he saw the first mate striding towards him.
"First Mate Levi…?"
The shorter man stopped in front of the teen, eyed him with a steely, unreadable expression, and nodded.
"It'll do."
"Sir…?"
"Come with me." Not offering an explanation, the man turned quickly on his heels and marched towards the officer cabins. Armin hurried after him, aching to beg for more clarification.
The older man stopped in front of a heavy door, produced a key from his pocket, and unlocked the door with a loud click. He pushed through the entrance, not even sparing the confused blond sailor a look. When Armin didn't follow him, he gave an exasperated sigh and gestured for the boy to enter as well.
Armin tentatively stepped into the room, realizing with a faint gasp that he was in the first mate's private quarters. Although the room was sparsely decorated, it was extremely clean—a sharp contrast to his own dusty cabin. Wait until Eren and Mikasa hear about this…
"Sir…?" Armin repeated, starting to grow worried at why the first mate brought him to his room.
The dark haired man rooted through a chest before pulling out several items: a pair of tan breeches, a ruffled white shirt, and a thicker blue jacket.
Armin blinked at the assemblage, still unable to connect the items in his mind.
Levi peered at the boy, scrutinizing his faintly sunburned cheeks and dust-sprinkled hair. "When was the last time you washed?"
"Uhh…?" Armin couldn't remember, but it had to have been a few days ago. He didn't bathe as often as his peers, who toiled long hours under the hot sun, primarily because he didn't want to use up more water than allocated. His messiness was usually attributed to dust and dirt—not pungent sweat and salt stains. Due to water shortages and less frequent stops for refilling the barrels, no one really cleaned themselves as often as the first mate would have preferred.
Apparently, Armin's lack of an immediate answer was not pleasing to the older man, as he grabbed another item out of the heavy chest.
Soap.
"Sir…? Can I ask what this is about?"
The loud chiming of bells echoed through the halls from above deck. The Freedom was about to dock.
"Bathe and get dressed. You're supposed to look like some rich brat. When you're through, come to the captain's cabin."
Levi gave one last unreadable look to his unsullied clothes before dropping them in the blond's outstretched, grubby hands.
"And hurry," he added, striding quickly out of his room.
Alone in the cabin, Armin finally allowed his spinning mind to settle. Still unsure of what was about to happen, his fingers curled tighter into the soft, silken fabric.
Look like some rich brat…?
Although the first mate told Armin to hurry, he dawdled slightly while bathing and dressing. The soap, softly scented and vaguely floral, seemed to slide along his dirty skin like warm butter, stealing away a thin layer of dirt and grime. He couldn't remember a time when his skin felt so smooth and clean.
Putting on the clothes was not nearly as enjoyable. Despite the fabric's deceivingly soft appearance, the ruffles on the shirt itched underneath his chin. The blue coat, heavy with gold plated buttons along the side, looked elegant, but felt starchy and unyielding, as if Levi had only worn it a few times. Similarly, the breeches were just barely too short, coming an inch higher on his knee than modern fashion dictated.
Armin realized that this was perhaps one of the first mate's seldom worn formal outfits, pulled out only when Captain Erwin or fashionable society demanded he wear it. It explained why the man had stared so intently at the boy, almost as if he were sizing the blond up.
The blond shifted uncomfortably in the sweltering clothing, sorely missing his lighter uniform and feeling grateful that he wasn't born into a richer family.
Armin peeked at the dulled mirror in the first mate's cabin. There was only one thing left to do. He quickly combed through his still damp hair, gently tugging at the snaring tangles. Distracted by things other than personal appearance, Armin was shocked to notice that his hair had grown longer since he and his friends had joined the Freedom. It now rested lightly on his shoulders, just long enough to pull back in a low ponytail. He spotted a ribbon, haphazardly lying on the first mate's table and securely tied the hair back.
He eyed his reflection again, partially surprised by the sudden transformation, yet simultaneously concerned that he didn't look "rich brat-y" enough for his mysterious task. Figuring it would have to do, Armin took a steadying breath, closed Levi's door, and went to receive his new assignment.
He realized he had taken longer than he thought to get ready when he intercepted the captain and his first mate on the way to the former's quarters. Although the first mate's expression of being perpetual unimpressed did not soften at Armin's new transformation, Captain Erwin looked rather pleased.
"Excellent work, Mister Levi."
The shorter man accepted the praise with an exhaled "tch" and a loose shrug.
Suppressing the urge to scratch at the ruffles under his neck, Armin mustered up the courage to finally ask about his new job. "Sir, what exactly am I doing, wearing this? It…it feels like a disguise," he added hesitantly, thinking about the first mate's earlier comment about being a rich brat.
The older blond smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry—it isn't anything dangerous."
Somehow that did little to soothe the boy's nerves.
"We're going to see a man about some new maps," the captain began. "Unfortunately, he has very high…standards for the people he acquaints himself with, so we must be properly dressed. I assumed you would like to join us, since these would interest you the most."
Armin nodded eagerly, excited that Captain Erwin was willing to include him on something so important as buying new maps. He supposed it was only natural that he should come along, especially since Armin was the Freedom's navigator, but the invitation simply made him feel more special.
However, a thought struck Armin as he glanced between Levi and Erwin. Neither of the men had changed from their uniforms, and though decorated as officers, neither outfit was as fancy as Armin's. He opened his mouth to ask if their uniforms were suitable when someone called his name from around a corner.
The younger blond turned, question forgotten at the sight of Eren, Mikasa, and Connie coming towards him.
"Arm—in?" Eren skidded to a stop, obviously startled by his childhood friend's outfit.
"What…are you wearing?" Connie added. He was about to make another comment, most likely to ridicule the boy's ruffles, but then he noticed Armin's two acquaintances and straightened up with a nervous expression.
"C-Captain Erwin and First Mate Levi?"
Eren's eyes widened and he glanced from Armin to the blond captain and then to the sullen first mate. He was obviously aching to ask the younger blond about his company.
"Good afternoon," Erwin nodded at the three sailors with a polite smile. "I hope you will enjoy Stohess's port. This is your first trip on shore, isn't it?" he asked, addressing the brunet and his adoptive sister.
"Uh, yes…sir." Eren mirrored the captain's nod with a slow, sluggish one of his own. He looked back to the younger blond. "Will Armin be able to come with us…?"
Armin opened his mouth to answer, but promptly closed it, unsure of what exactly the captain had planned for him.
"Certainly! Mister Arlert is just going to help us buy a few maps and then he has the rest of the day to spend as he chooses. We'll only borrow him for an hour," he assured him.
Relieved, Eren and the others offered their brief goodbyes before promising to meet up at a later time. Armin waved back at his departing friends before hurrying after Captain Erwin and Levi.
His very first step on dry land in weeks was accompanied by an ungraceful stumble. Not expecting the group to be so…steady, Armin tripped on the slatted gangplank, making his second, third, and forth steps equally embarrassing. He knew he looked far from a cultured gentleman in that moment, and hoped that their map seller wasn't watching from the docks.
Armin gradually found his footing and relearned how to walk on the dirt path leading from the docks to the cobbled main road. He supposed he could call this sensation of stillness "land sickness," as it felt unnatural compared to the soft rocking of the ocean.
He followed the captain and his shorter first mate down the cobbled road, surprised when the blond took a turn down a darker alley. Far from the main road, the buildings lining the thinner walkway were grimy and crowded.
I thought we were meeting the map seller somewhere nice? After all, the captain had said the many was particular about who he met with.
After another moment of dizzying twists and turns, Erwin stopped in front of a dilapidated building, stained with water damage and rotting wood. Without hesitating, the blond captain pushed through the door, followed by a scowling Levi.
Armin paused to study the outside before hurrying inside. He barely managed to catch Levi's disgruntled muttering.
"I still don't know why you always come to this shitty place."
If anything, the captain looked amused at his first mate's obvious disgust. "You know why, Levi," he answered in a hushed whisper. Erwin straightened up, brushed some dust off his uniform, and crossed through the room to talk to an overly made-up woman. Armin was surprised to see the building was packed with an assortment of sailors and general workers. The familiar tang of alcohol filled his nose; Armin realized with a start that they were in a pub.
Erwin had already secured a room and waved the other two to join him. Levi glanced to the side, noting the boy's wide eyed expression with a humorless scoff.
"I suppose we should go see what he wants this time," the shorter man muttered with another contemptuous roll of his eyes.
Armin trailed after the first mate, avoiding the sneering, drunken glares of the pub's patrons. He stuck out sorely in the drably dressed crowd. Not for the first time, Armin started wondering if his captain was slightly unhinged for having the boy dress up so formally. He was certain that if he had gone alone, he would be dead in a ditch somewhere, completely shorn of clothes.
Distracted by thoughts of his impending doom, Armin momentarily lost sight of where he was going and smacked into a girl, carrying a tray of empty mugs.
"I-I am so sorry!" Armin stuttered when the girl turned her icy gaze on him. She looked briefly murderous before forcing the expression into a forced, meek smile.
"I apologize, sir," she murmured, her voice low and hard to catch. She lowered her gaze and quickly adjusted the wrapping around her head, concealing her hair. He wanted to talk to her longer—something about the girl's blue eyes seemed familiar—but he caught sight of his captain's profile and reminded himself that he had a job to do.
He excused himself from the girl, but she had already disappeared. He briefly scanned the busy pub for her; however, he quickly dismissed the search with a shake of the head.
As Armin entered the side room, Captain Erwin introduced him with an overly bright smile.
"Ah, yes. This is my nephew." Armin stuttered to a stop, thrown by the captain's statement. However, the older blond's intense gaze warned him to play along with the new identity.
"Nephew?" The room's fourth occupant leaned forward, squinting at Armin with narrowed, bloodshot eyes. Their mysterious mapmaker was a far cry from the aristocratic, proper man Armin was expecting. Instead of dressed in rich velvets and leather, their man was covered in stained, mismatched rags, which barely managed to cover his protruding gut. He smelt as if he was drunk, the foul scent radiating off his tattered jacket and shirt. When the man leaned forward, invading Armin's personal space with a leering grin, the blond could smell the sweet and sour tang of grog on his breath.
"You 'ave a nephew? Wots 'e doin' 'ere instead of feastin'?"
Erwin smiled thinly. "He absolutely insisted on coming along. He's…fascinated with maps."
"Maps?" The man wrinkled his nose and released a bark of laughter. "Maps?" he slurred again, his voice increasing excitedly, as if he thought the word was hilarious. "I bet 'e can't even dress 'imself, let alone use a map!"
His laughs turned into rattling coughs, which only grew louder when he noticed his mug was empty. Erwin shot a knowing glance at Levi and the latter disappeared, presumably to buy more alcohol to further loosen the tongue of their informant.
"If ya like maps so much, why don't ya look at this 'un." Having recovering from his coughing fit, the man dug around in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled fabric.
"Can't make no sense of it, but maybe yer lordship can," he offered it to the boy with a mocking sneer. Armin smiled weakly back and looked down at the cloth in his hands. Erwin straightened at the sight of the map. Obviously, this was what the captain wanted. Badly.
Armin gradually began to understand what the blond captain was trying to do here. The "map maker" wasn't actually a navigator—he was an information broker. Levi returned with another nod to his superior, further confirming the blond's guess that this was part of a larger plan. Despite his dulled tongue, the informant's eyes occasionally burned with a sharp shrewdness. He doubted their "mapmaker" would have given the map to him if he looked like a legitimate sailor. By looking like the out of place son of a rich merchant, Armin effectively wore the most unassuming disguise.
He unfolded the map and suppressed the urge to gasp. In the center of the cloth was a faded circle, surrounded by darkened numbers and letters. Armin swallowed a thick lump in his throat and looked back up to meet Erwin's intense stare and the informant's glazed smirk.
"Can't figure it out neither?"
"No, I-I've never seen anything like this before." Armin forced out, trying to remain calm.
He absolutely had seen something like it before. He looked down at the circle and traced each letter and number with his wide gaze.
It looked like his grandfather's map, the tiny numbers and letters carefully printed in his grandfather's handwriting; the neat scrawl he could never forget. Although the map initially appeared to be an identical copy to his grandfather's last possession, Armin realized that the numbers and letters were in a different order.
All except two words and two numbers.
A hesitant knock sounded at the door, jarring Armin violently from his spiraling thoughts. He jerked his head up and noticed with a faint smile that it was the same barmaid from earlier, carrying the dealer's refill. However, instead of looking at him, the girl's piercing gaze darted around the room, jumping from the empty table to Erwin and his first mate and then to the informant. When she couldn't find what she was looking for, her stare wandered curiously towards Armin and focused intently on the map in his hands.
Feeling faintly reminded of Ymir's earlier stare, Armin discretely folded the map over, preventing the girl from reading its contents. Her blank gaze returned and she quickly backed out of the room.
That was…strange, the boy admitted to himself, wondering why a simple barmaid seemed so intent on their map. He dismissed his buzzing thoughts and reopened the fabric. He had to memorize the numbers and letters on the map before the informant's alcohol and patience ran out.
Erwin's curious questions regarding recent pirate sightings echoed in the background, too faint for the blond teen to catch. He was too busy committing the map to memory to hear the vague whispers of the Titan's new leader and the emergence of the Beast.
Keeping her expression carefully neutral, the barmaid hurried past the drunken pleas and catcalls of the pub's customers. Checking behind her for any followers, the girl slipped into a darkened room and released a pent up grunt of frustration.
"I assumed it didn't go well?" A match sputtered to life, revealing a muscular teen in the faint glow. He tossed the hissing splint into a lantern, causing the oil to burst into flame and illuminate the tiny room.
The barmaid glared at her visitor, saying nothing to the grinning blond. However, after another beat of silence, she signed.
"Smith and his first mate were there. I couldn't get close enough."
The man's eyebrows darted upwards in surprise. He had seen the Freedom dock an hour ago, but he didn't think the blond captain would be so desperate to sink to the information underworld.
"Did Bart at least know anything?"
"You know how useless he is." The girl's tone was cold and she thought back to the drunken man's slurs and hiccups.
"But did he have it?"
The barmaid's expression hardened as she yanked the head covering off. She ran thin fingers through her hair, fluffing and tying the blonde strands back into a messy bun.
"Smith has it now."
"Well… That certainly makes things a bit more difficult."
Annie Leonhardt examined her pale fingers nonchalantly, fanning the digits in the air before curling them into a tight fist.
"Do you think so?"
Thank you so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.
You had a lil' bit of that AruAni interaction I promised. See? They just didn't realize it.