''I'm not Levi, I'm Rivaille.''
I say it just like that, strong enough to make sure he won't talk back to me. And he doesn't, but he smiles playfully when I pronounce my name at least. I know. It sounds silly. It's the same. French. English. Whatever language you use, it's the same sound. The only difference, is the sound at the very beginning. The 'R' rolls on my tongue while the 'L' just slips through my lips. The ending sounds the same because the 'e' is silent and 'ill' sounds like a 'I' with a little more time spent waving on my breath. The main different appears on paper when you write it down... and I know Armin heard it too.
''Alright... Rivaille'' He insists on the name, on the similarity. I hate it. ''Your presence here suggests otherwise, but I shall believe you for now.''
My presence here doesn't have anything to do with Levi, it almost slips past my lips, but I stop it. As if. This doesn't make any sense. Why in the world would I be interested in Armin Arlet if it's not for his novel? For his idea of reincarnation. Of course, Levi led me here. It's all about Levi... If I hadn't encountered Levi, I wouldn't be able to tell the pendant from the others. I wouldn't be here.
''Do you want to go somewhere to talk? I know a good place not too far from here.''
And that's just how it goes.
It's like everything just pulls me with the flow these days and I can't really do much about it. I've never been much of an office worker, but I went with it because that's just how it went for me until now. When I lost my job, I thought I was done for a shitty job at Target until I decided to finish School... If I ever did, but I didn't even know what to study and I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with being a Doctor. I just wanted to do something helpful somewhere along the way. I felt the need to be useful, but when Erwin told me he found something for me, I went with it, more than I actually was interested. It was there in front of me and it was an opportunity. I never thought it would lead me here. Never. I went with it just like how I follow Armin into a small but cozy coffee shop. The walk there isn't long, but it feels like an eternity where I keep telling myself to go back home... believing this guy doesn't have anything to tell me about this.
He sits close to the front of the shop, right next to a window and orders a Latte while I take the normal and boring coffee. Cheap, but always sure to be good. I admit his latte looks pretty good though, but that's just how life goes... Expensive = Good Taste.
''So... if you're not Levi, why would you come to me? And why?'' he doesn't waste anymore time. He starts the moment the waitress leaves us with our drinks. It's like he waited for this moment.
His blue eyes shine with interest when they look at me. He looks older than what I saw in the Replayer, but I didn't expect him to still be fifteen-years-old. From what I understand of this novel, he believes he died at an old age back then. From there, he thinks he was reborn a few times with and without meeting his friends again. Sometimes he'd see them as a kid while they were adults, but sometimes the opposite would happen too. Of course, it would be a pretty convenient coincidence to be reborn at almost the same time as someone else. Maybe one time. Maybe two, but after that... it's just a freaking miracle at this point. That's why Armin Arlet spent most of his lives without them.
He searched for them... and he found me somewhere along the line.
''I've read your book... well, some of it.'' I start, but I don't even know where to go with this. I can't talk to him about the Replayer... or rather, I shouldn't. I really shouldn't, but I don't feel like lying will get me anywhere at this point. Not in this situation. It's better to play with all my cards on the table.
Eren Jaeger said his friend was very clever, right?
''Alright, listen. I'm going to trust you because... well, because of Eren Jaeger, but you...''
''Eren Jaeger? Did you meet Eren?''
It is weird to say Eren Jaeger's name with my own mouth. His name is bittersweet on my lips. I start to say it and I hesitate in the middle like I'm not even sure I have the right to say this name because it's precious. Important. It already gets me kind of worked up, but when I hear him ask me if I met him; I'm gone and I lose it. I find my heart pounding in my chest loudly. It's like I'm getting excited because... Hell, is he alive right now? I find myself suddenly blindly believing Armin Arlet and his stupid reincarnation bullshit because it suddenly suits me... Wait, it does? I don't even know why I want the kid to be alive. I don't even know him! Damn it.
''I didn't meet Eren Jaeger... I mean, I kind of did, but not really.''
Oh god. This doesn't make any sense. Armin looks at me oddly and he closes himself to me the moment I say that. It feels like I wasn't the only one getting my hopes up.
''Like I told you, I'm not Levi. I'm just a guy working for The Legion... Do you know about them?''
''Yeah I do. They made the Replayer. They're making a bunch of movies with it and they investigate the past. I didn't know they were working on the War...'' His words are lost as he mumbles too low, lost in thoughts. Then he lifts his head to look at me and continues : ''They're working on Eren Jaeger and the Titans.''
''Well... Kinda.'' I don't get why it's such a big deal to him. It shows in his expression, but I ignore it to continue my little story. I mean, I want to talk about Eren, but I don't even understand why I'm interested in the boy. I'd rather get to the point and talk about my daughter right now. ''Anyway. I ended up working with Levi for the past months and that's how I met Eren Jaeger, but that's not the only person I met in the Replayer... I met my daughter in it.''
''Only her?''
''There are a lot of people around me who share a few similarities with people in the Replayer, which is pretty disturbing, but I ignored it until Mikasa brought a Pendant with the Wings of Freedom home and claimed to know what it was... She said it was ours.''
I think I see his expression soften when I say Mikasa's name, did I see that right?
''It is yours.''
''I know, but an eleven-year-old girl shouldn't know that.''
No. I mean. It's Levi's... Not mine.
''What if she remembers parts of her past?''
''I'm not swallowing this reincarnation theory of yours, Arlet. First you, now her!?''
''There's more than just the two of us. It just so happens that everyone is alive at the same time right now it seems...'' He says that... and he seems to be relieved by it. The corner of his lips lift a little and I'm pretty sure he's happy about everything this could bring to him. If what he says is true, then that means his friend is alive...
This brings me to think about Eren Jaeger and the question slips past my lips with big expectation:
''Is Eren Jaeger alive again right now too then?''
It sounds casual. It sounds normal, but it's not. I feel like my whole being waits for the answer to come out of his mouth. I want him to say ''Yes'' but the answer doesn't come. He looks at me. He waits and I can't make out anything of this pause as my whole being waits... for what seems to be forever.
I'm ready to believe in reincarnation at this exact moment.
''No, he's not alive again.''
Here it comes; the fall. I went so high riding on the anticipation, now it crashes down. It feels like I'm not ready to go back. Not ready to accept this. The words echo in me. He's not alive again. He's not alive. Eren Jaeger is dead. I ended up too high and didn't learn to fly. I couldn't fly. I pay the price as I feel myself crushed under the news. It hurts and I can't even explain rationally why it does. It shouldn't hurt.
Never mind the coffee I almost forgot until now. I don't want it. I watch him take a sip... I look down at the contents of my cup. Hell, I can't see my face, but I'm pretty sure disappointment shows without having any 'Real' reason to be disappointed right now. I don't understand any of this and Armin Arlet didn't make much sense of all of this.
''Maybe there's a reason for us to be alive right now together...'' he continues, but I'm done with this conversation.
Eren's death is such a let down... maybe that's the answer I've been looking for all along when I came to him. I just wanted to know if Eren Jaeger existed in this world. I wanted him to exist.
I stand up. Yeah, I'm done and the look he gives me tells me he knows this would happen somehow... I don't even want to know how. I don't care anymore. All of this, it's back to how it should be; just a job.
''Thank you for your time, I guess.'' I say in an attempt to be polite before turning away.
I do not go far. Armin Arlet stops me by grabbing my arms and he says one little thing, just that with a pleading voice:
''Please. Don't let them know... about Eren. Don't let them.''
What the fuck is that suppose to mean? Why does it matter?
Eren Jaeger is already dead.
-X-
Authenticating… Replayer: Rivaille, Password: Heychou
Success!
Opening Session no. 06-16
Resuming Memory
Just yesterday, Petra said she admitted being disappointed because she couldn't get Levi... She was upset and Levi couldn't find anything to say to her. Nothing would appease that feeling so he left it there like that inside her. Just yesterday after her confession, she admitted with a little smile that giving Auruo his chance wasn't such a bad idea after all. He didn't remind her of her irritation when he first suggested that a few months ago. He kept the same expression as usual and nodded, but she probably knew... He was glad it worked out for her.
...but now, nothing will ever work out for her.
Nothing will ever work out for any of the members of the Special Operations Squad. They were the closest thing to friends he had and they had to die to Titans again... like before. In a way, he was glad he still managed to save Jaeger in that mess. They didn't lose everything. Not yet. The boy was alive. He managed to save him... even though it costs him an injury. He could probably blame Mikasa for this. It would be easy to direct his anger toward her and just deal with it, but he wasn't really angry at her for causing this. It was an error of judgement. She didn't think. The only thing bothering him was her lack of discipline in following his orders. It's not like he was asking anything crazy. At least, he knows about her now; he can't count on her to stick to the plan... not when it comes to Eren.
And it'll often come to Eren in the following months, he knows that much.
They entered the city. Petra's father went by. The walk back inside the wall is always the hardest one. As if it doesn't hurt the soldiers enough to lose their comrades, they had to leave them outside the wall... They had to abandon them. The citizens whine. Levi had to give up Petra's badge to someone else. It's hard on everyone.
It's hard on Levi too, you know, but there isn't any time for some shitty heartbreaking moment... It's the time to prepare.
The time to prepare for Eren to be taken away.
Next to him, in the cart, he feels Eren's eyes on him for an instant as he moves forward a bit. Away from the boy barely waking up. The boy he saved from the Female Titan. It was gross and he never thought he'd get in a Titan's mouth except to die, but he got the boy out of there and he was glad when he felt his body still warm, his heart still beating and his breathing still steady.. but it doesn't really appease the grief. It doesn't really make it easier. The only thing that's easier now, is the will to kill Titans... as their Legacy.
He heard Eren's exchange with Mikasa. He heard his question and he knows the girl didn't answer him. She didn't confirm or deny who saved him, but it was clear in her behavior; She wasn't proud of herself. It wasn't her. He just hoped the boy didn't catch on to it and understood. Levi saved him, but that wasn't the way he intended to save Eren when he first saw him. He wanted to save Eren from something far greater than this... and it is still such a long road ahead.
A Lonely road.
Levi is merely a meter ahead from the cart, but he hears it anyway when Eren finally breaks down. He cries. He yells. It's loud and powerful, but more importantly; It's incredibly furious. It feels like he's yelling for everyone, like he's yelling for Petra... for Levi. It makes him feel lighter.
It feels good.
-X-
It's just like the Replayer, but it is not the Replayer. The sand makes his footing uneven as he tries to walk... as I try to walk. It feels like the Replayer, but it's different from it. In the Replayer, sensations aren't really there. I felt his pain when he injured himself for Mikasa, but it wasn't really there. I knew he was in pain more than I could feel it and the same happened when he walked on it... as if it didn't hurt. I knew it did. Right now, it's different. I feel the sun burning his skin. I think he has a tan too... or rather, I do. He's been stuck out there for too long... He rolled his sleeves up. He opened his shirt a little. It's hot. It's incredibly hot. I can feel the empty stomach aching for food because he's been out of provisions for a while now. It feels like me, but it's not. I've never been there and there's no reason for me to dream of this place. The waves making their way to ours feet do not have any meaning for me, but I'm still here and I hold a dirty piece of cloth in my hand. It's bloody and I can't even see what it is. I don't need to see it to know what it is though. It's a badge. It's the Wings of Freedom. It's part of someone's shirt...
And I feel my heart tighten at the thought because it just might be his, it probably is.
Ahead, it's infinite. There's no end to the sight before us. The horizon is drawn with blue, the color of the ocean. It's just like Eren said it would be; blue and salty. He could never really picture it in his head, but it's here now and it would be perfect if Eren was there... If.
He falls to his knees at last, his strength starting to fail him. He walked forever. He gave up his gear because there wasn't any gas left for him to use. He gave up the idea of getting back home long ago.
We reached the shore without Eren, but at least... He reached it; Levi.
This could very well be the Replayer. I could blame the sudden change on me, because I got involved too much in this... because Armin got me into thinking I might have been Levi. Not THE Levi, but still Levi. This could very well be in the Replayer... if I wasn't staring at the ceiling of my bedroom. It's blurry. It's wet. What the hell? My eyes are wet with tears. They won't stop coming out. It's not like I'm crying or anything, they just flow out of nowhere.
I'm not a sentimental person... Trust me. They're there without my consent.
You see, I was kind of glad I managed to sleep before midnight tonight. Mikasa isn't home. There aren't any keyboard sounds in the background, light footsteps, yawns, sneezes or the fan in the bathroom. No. It's perfect silence in the apartment and I should still be asleep to get a full night of sleep for once, but no... I'm wide awake at three in the morning. My breathing is ragged. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, but they still feel swollen. I can't even believe it. This isn't real, right?
I'm not Levi. I do not care... I shouldn't.
This wasn't the Replayer. It was different. I dreamed of Levi. I dreamed of Eren too, even though he wasn't exactly there. I dreamed I was Levi and I knew exactly what he felt deep inside at that moment when he saw all this water shining under the sunlight. He felt sad. He felt he wanted to go back. He felt like he failed Eren in the end... because he had so much more to do with him. He had so much to say to him.
And he still had to save him... to make him happy.
It made him feel despair as he felt the sand between his fingers because he probably would never reach home anymore and he would probably die on this shore. Weak. Hungry. Sunburned.I am awake now and I am not Levi. I push all of this to the back of my mind... to the same place I've put the news of Eren Jaeger's death; in a faraway place for me to forget. Or just hope, I'll forget it all.
I find myself unable to fall back asleep as I keep thinking about the events of the last few days in my mind. It bothers me and I give up on sleeping after about an hour of rolling over from one side to the other in bed in search of a comfortable position to finally rest. Nope. It never works. It seems like every little sound bothers me from the fridge in the kitchen to the A/C in the window. It seems like Levi won't leave my mind. It seems like Eren Jaeger will haunt me even though I never met him to begin with.
That's how I spend my Monday 'early morning' before going to work to meet my boss and, once again, this will be about him...
About Eren Jaeger.
-X-
Authenticating… Replayer: Rivaille, Password: Heychou
Success!
Opening Session no. 06-19
Resuming Memory
You shouldn't have used your legs like this right after it happened. You should take it easy from now on. You should give it time. It'll heal. That's a pretty good resume of what the doctor said to him once he got the chance to see to Levi's injury. He didn't wait that long really before someone came to see him in his room, but it felt like an eternity before they finally left to leave him alone at least... well, alone with the boy. Eren didn't leave him. He couldn't really leave him at this point. His captivity was a delicate matter at the moment and there was no doubt, they'd have to give him over to the Military Police. Levi doesn't like the idea, but he had his hands full right of his own self right now and Erwin won't let this pass this easily.
Erwin Smith isn't that type of man.
Levi's eyes go for the boy sitting in silence somewhere in the corner of the room. He sits tight. His posture is rigid. It's a nervous posture. Eren Jaeger doesn't like the situation... or this silence. Hell, Levi thinks it's the first time the boy comes into this room, but this tangible uneasiness in the air annoys him. He doesn't like it either, but he ignores it as he sits on the edge of the bed to remove his jacket. He loosen his cravat. The kid still doesn't move.
''Make yourself useful and get me my clothes.''
Oh, his head raises and his eyes meet Levi's for an instant before he stands up suddenly.
''..Eh? I mean; Yes sir!''
For a moment, Levi stares at him as he turns in circles trying to figure out what he should do... or where he should get his clothes. Until it gets old and Levi clicks his tongue; even though it's more like an habit than anything.
''In the first drawer; shirt. In the second; pants.''
Organized, as usual, but it takes the contact of Eren Jaeger for just a few seconds to mess it up. Taking a perfectly folded piece of clothing and bringing it to Levi, it's enough time for Eren to turn the clothes into the mass of fabric he's about to hand over..., but he stops. He stops right there as his eyes register what the fuck is going on; Levi removed his jacket and his shirt. There's a pause. It isn't awkward right away. Not to Levi, at least. He stares at Eren not really knowing what's wrong because the kid nearly dropped the clothes on the floor and that wouldn't be good on clean clothes... and then, it comes to him.
Apple green eyes are looking at him... as in, really looking at Levi's body, but that's not the only thing those eyes see. They see the way he grimaces when he pulls the pants off his legs and they show a desperate anger... a need to fix everything. If he was eyeing the Corporal just a second before, he looks in pain now.
''Hey, Jaeger.'' He calls out and it startles the boy who suddenly bounces nervously from one foot to the other while he looks everywhere... but at Levi.
There's another pause where Levi tries to find another explication for this... One that is easy to deal with, but still explain the way Eren looked at him. It's not the first time he notices something, but it's the first time he actually pinpoints the reason why... or thinks he might know.
...And Levi hates it, because he doesn't want to deal with this... He doesn't want to deal with this kid's feeling be it affection, pity, sadness or anything. He doesn't want it.
Any of it.
''Corporal...'' starts the boy as he walks forward and Levi doesn't like this... not at all. He opens his mouth to interrupt him right away, but stops himself. It takes an instant for Eren to be on his knees; breaking the boundaries between them like they weren't even there to begin with... because Eren Jaeger is Thunder; untameable, surprising, it strikes strong, but it doesn't always hurt. It's not bad. It's not destructive. If anything, Eren Jaeger is gentle. He grabs Levi before he even realizes what is going on and he holds him tightly.
For an instant, Levi thinks he wants to reassure him and he tenses up incredibly to the embrace nearly crushing his bones... but no, Eren Jaeger isn't holding him because Levi needs comfort. It's because Eren Jaeger himself needs comfort and Levi finds himself letting it go. He stares into the wall. He waits for the boy to calm down. He gets kind of annoyed by the situation because he didn't even get to finish dressing himself, but he doesn't push the boy away yet.
No, he gives him a little squeeze for an instant as he listens to whatever the boy is trying to say... It says ''I'm Sorry'' like a Mantra. It says Petra's name quite a few times too. There's the name of pretty much every member of his Squad, but Petra comes up more often. For a second, Levi feels better because he thinks Eren might actually have been interested in Petra... not him, but then it comes out somewhere while he whines loudly by Levi's ear:
''I'm sorry! I could have saved her... I'm sorry you couldn't marry her.''
''I wasn't going to marry her, shitty brat.'' Pause. He pauses to let it in. To give Eren the time to calm down and he does. He lets go of Levi before he actually needs to give the order so he can finally resume getting his clothes on... while Eren evades looking at him again and heads back toward the door in a hurry..
Levi sees the color on his cheeks, he just ignores it because it's easier this way.. for both of them.
''No one could have known.''
He doesn't want to let Eren in...or rather, he shouldn't and he doesn't want something like this to ever happen again. Never. It makes him uneasy... and he'll just act like this weird embrace never happened because... It's for the best.
-X-
''Please take a seat'' she says when I enter the office behind her and I'm more than happy to fall down on one of the expensive and comfortable chairs of her office. I'm tired. I'm dead tired and I probably look like shit too with the dark circles under my eyes, but she doesn't really look that good either. She's tall, too tall. Her hair is a mess and the ponytail doesn't really hide it well. She might be a little prettier than the Hanji of the Replayer, but she's still the same kind of person.
Yeah, I found out quite a few 'reincarnations' like Armin calls them since I spoke to him. They were under my nose, I just didn't pay attention until now I guess. She probably doesn't have any memory of it like most of them... us.
She sits in front of me and leans on the table as if I'm suddenly incredibly interesting... or Levi is.
''I think I might have found Eren's precious person!'' she sings-songs to me.
I don't get it. Honestly, I don't and I hate her tone.
''Do you have a little idea of who it might be?''
''Not really... Isn't it Mikasa?''
Ugh, saying my daughter's name in the middle of this feels weird.
''Think about it!'' she insists and I don't want to think about it, because I feel like I already know the answer. I knew it all along, I just didn't want to admit it... just like Levi didn't want to. ''It's Levi!''
It's here. It's finally said out loud and she makes it real just by saying it. Eren Jaeger cares about Levi. He cares so much. He actually loves him, that's how it is. It's been there. The way he looked at Levi or the way he talked : ''..Like you?'' He wanted to know. He needed to know. He didn't want Levi to marry Petra. He felt bad about it when she died. He liked her too, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to feel like this, but he did.
''You knew?''
''I don't know... I saw it coming, I guess. How did you find out?''
''From someone else's memory. We weren't expecting this at all from them, but they saw Eren sharing an intimate moment with Levi at one point through the Replayer... They're a few months later than you in the Replayer, that's why you didn't know before them. BUT I can show you the scene if you want! I think I have it somewhere...'' she says that as she searches on her tablet, but I stop her.
''No. It's alright.'' I really don't want to see this right now... I don't feel that good about it really. I'm actually kind of upset, like I didn't want anyone to see this. See what? Why do I fucking care? Oh my god...! This is getting ridiculous and my mood is even shittier now. ''What did you want to talk about? You said you wanted us to concentrate on the same thing...''
''Oh! Right! Since your synchronization rate with Levi is perfect, I was thinking we could... move on with things a little. The truth is, we don't care about all the boring stuff you see in the Replayer. We think you can move forward in Levi's memory to find answers for us.''
You know what... I don't like this. I can almost hear Armin Arlet telling me his last sentence again and again in my head: ''Don't let them know.''
''...Answers to what?''
''To Eren's ability to turn Titan...''
-X-
Authenticating… Replayer: Rivaille, Password: Heychou
Success!
Opening Session no. 06-19
Resuming Memory
Levi hates it. He hates the way he kept his hand on the wall when he walked down the stair to reach the large dining room where Erwin would meet them. He hated the way he walked slower, but he couldn't really help it. He hates the way Eren walked slower to help him follow the pace. He hated Eren Jaeger in general at this particular moment... and he was forced to stare at his messy brown hair all the way down the stair while the brat would glance at him from time to time. Hell, he felt like giving him a kick just for doing it. It reminds him slightly of Petra's protectiveness... but he might be getting weird ideas since he got that weird and awkward hug from the boy.
...and since he clearly saw the way Eren stared.
Some time, he'll put him back in his place, that's how it's going to go, but probably not now. Eren laughs nervously at his constipated comment. It's not an honest laugh. Levi hates it. He hates the way the boy looks when he does it... so he turns his head to the side. Eren isn't used to his speech, he didn't get to hear it often yet. He doesn't seem to know if it's suppose to be funny or not and Levi fights the urge to look at him. To see. Just to see because he needs to see to actually know if it's just him... or Eren has grown on him.
''You're quite talkative Corporal.''
The boy speaks. He's nervous... is he getting more and more nervous today? No. Of course, not. Levi is just over thinking this because he's still bothered by this intimate contact and he doesn't like it. That's all.
''Cut me some slack. Talkativeness is in my personality.''
Not really, but he needs to fill the silence. That's why he's been talking. The room is uncomfortable. It's silent without everyone else. It's uneasy with Eren's anxious energy ready to blow any moment. It's also awkward because Levi doesn't like where Eren is going with all of his shitty behavior. He didn't notice at first... but now, he does.
Tch, his legs hurts and he flinches.
''I'm sorry. It was all my fault. If only I'd made the right decision...''
''I told you. No one could have foreseen the outcome.''
This again. Isn't he tired of playing the same thing over and over again... at least, he doesn't go for a hug now. It's not like Levi actually hated the closeness in reality, but he'd rather hate it than like it. Liking it wouldn't be simple, but it is simple to concentrate on the present moment.
Good timing, he thinks when Erwin comes in with a few faces he's familiar with; like Armin Arlet and Mikasa Ackerman. He doesn't know the other guy with a weird haircut, but he's assuming it's one of Eren's friends. At this point, Levi doesn't really care about this plan. He listens more for Eren than himself. Hey, he's the last member of his Squad and it's not like Levi can participate in any mission right now. It's not like he's happy about it though... quite the opposite.
He doesn't look at Eren. He reads what Erwin gave him, but none of it matters. They explain and all he knows is Eren feels the pressure more and more with each sentence bringing him closer to Armin's conclusion...
''Annie Leonhardt.''
''Annie's the Female Titan?'' Eren asks even though it's pretty clear by now for anyone listening to this conversation. Yet, he feels the need to ask it again, unsure. ''Why? Why would you say that, Armin?!''
That's it. Armin's arguments make sense, but Levi stares at Eren as he starts to light up with something strong again; panic. Levi knows Eren isn't stupid. It's not that he doesn't get it. It's because he gets it, actually. He just doesn't want it to be true. He doesn't want to believe it... and he doesn't have to believe it, because they do not have any tangible evidence. None. They assume, which is correct, but Eren Jaeger won't believe this easily. He won't assume even if it makes complete sense to everyone else... because he is good.
He's too good to be true and he sees everyone with his own twisted perception. It's black or white... There's nothing in between.
''I got that, kid. Do you have any other evidence?'' I ask him... more for Eren than for myself because I already know the answer to this question before he says it.
''I don't.''
''In my opinion, the Female titan resembles Annie.''
Oh god... what a nice argument coming from Ackerman, but there's more to this than the stupidity of this comment. It's the blind faith in Armin she has. Unlike Eren, she trusts his judgement completely and she doesn't have any problem with it, even if it's someone she knows. Eren can't possibly think of understanding that. He's not in the same league and probably never will be. He wouldn't sacrifice someone just because Armin thinks it's the answer.
Levi wouldn't either, but...
''What? What are you even saying? Is that all you-''
''So we've got no proof, but we'll still do it.'' I sum it up for Eren... because he doesn't get it yet and he needs to. There's no need to struggle. If you can save hundreds with the life of one, it's better than losing hundreds for one. That's how Erwin thinks and probably Armin. That's the better course to take too.
There's no ''If it's not Annie...'', because everyone here is ready to sacrifice her for him. Even Levi would sacrifice her for Eren. It's one for one. If it works, Eren will be safe. If it works, Levi will be able to save him. It's probably the same for Armin, he'd rather take the chance than lose Eren... because he values Eren more than her.
... and Levi does too.