Day 6: Eren, Mikasa and Armin

"Armin!" Armin looked up with a smile as he heard his best friend, his only friend, but that wasn't the point, calling out to him. He raised his hand up in a wave, but it froze midway as he realized that Eren wasn't alone.

Eren didn't have any other friends either, so if he came to Armin with someone else, it was always either one of his parents or the soldier Hannes, a friend of Eren's father. But not this time. This time, he was accompanied by a girl who looked to be about their age.

Armin didn't like that, not one bit. Other kids were always mean, and this girl looked mean too.

"This is Mikasa" Eren introduced as the two reached him "She'll be staying with my family from now on."

"Huh?" Armin asked in surprise, not understanding why the Yeagers would suddenly take someone in. But it's not like it was his business, anyway. Remembering his manners, Armin extended his hand: "Uuh… I'm Armin."

He had to be polite; it's not like this girl had done anything to him, not yet at least, and if she was Eren's friend, she couldn't be all that bad, could she? He had to give her a chance.

"Hello" the girl simply said, taking his hand, and Armin actually winced at her hard and sturdy grip. Had she done that on purpose or was her hold always that strong?

"What are you up to?" Eren asked, making Armin glance at the book he'd left on the ground "Just reading."

"About the ocean again?" Eren asked, and Armin turned his panicked gaze to the brunet, willing him to shut up. Eren knew it was illegal; he shouldn't bring it up in front of other people.

"Eren" he hissed, hoping his friend would get the hint.

"Huh? Ah" Eren seemed to get it "Don't worry about Mikasa; she won't tell anyone. Right, Mikasa?"

"Tell what?" the girl asked, apparently not knowing what the ocean was. Not that Armin held it against her; after all, most people hadn't even heard of it.

"Nothing!" he hurried to say before Eren could get them in to trouble "It's nothing at all!"

Eren was frowning, he saw.

"But Armin- "

"I need to go; grandpa said he wants me home early today!" the boy said, picking up his book and running off before Eren could protest.

He was pathetic, he knew. Normally, Armin took pride in never running away but today, he hadn't been able to help himself. Aside from Eren, he was always a little scared of other kids, and this new girl, Mikasa, was also scary. What if she got them in trouble if she saw the book? Or what if she took the book to throw it around? She wouldn't be the first one to do that.

"Stop it Armin, now you're just being rude" he told himself "She didn't do anything!"

Maybe he could apologize the next time he saw her. Or at least try to be her friend. Surely, if she tried to bully him, Eren wouldn't take her along anymore, right?

Armin sure hoped that.

XXXXX

"Give it back!" Armin snapped at the bullies that took his book, though he knew it was useless. They never did, regardless of if he asked nicely or gave a firm order. But those were the only things he could do; he wasn't tall or strong enough to just take it back.

"Or you'll do what?" one of them asked, and the other two laughed. They all knew there was nothing Armin could do "Read your little story books out loud?"

"They aren't just stories" Armin told, knowing that he wouldn't be believed anyway "Those things really exist in the outside world!"

"Uhhuh, sure" one of the boys mocked, flapping through the pages "Because salt water is so real!"

With a chuckle, he carelessly threw the book over his shoulder. Armin saw it land on the street, fortunately missing a puddle few meters away. He was about to run over to the book, but the boy held him back.

"We're not done here yet, heretic" he pointed out.

"I think you are" Armin and the bullies turned their heads, seeing an angry Eren carrying a grocery bag with Mikasa right behind him.

"You again, Eren?" they laughed "Came to get beat up again?"

"It's you who'll get beat up" Eren said, pushing the groceries to Mikasa's arms. She accepted them, but as Eren was about to charge forward, he wasn't able to since Mikasa had a hold of his arm as well "Mikasa, let go."

"You shouldn't fight, Eren" she simply said.

"Got a new friend, huh Eren?" the boys laughed "Just listen to her and run along."

"No way" Eren said, pulling his arm away by force before lunging at the boys "You're going down!"

Armin wasn't happy about it when he did. Eren was far stronger than him, but three on one was too much for him as well. Plus, these kids were older and bigger. Eren stood no chance against them on his own.

Remembering that Mikasa was there as well, Armin risked a glance at her to see what the girl would do. Would she run in order to not get in to trouble? Would she get help? She was putting the groceries down…

"Huh?" Armin stared in shock as the girl calmly walked to the closest bully, flipping him over by grasping his arm. The other two and Eren all stopped what they were doing, looking at Mikasa in shock.

"Eren, your mom will get mad if you get your clothes dirty" she said, grasping the hand of the boy who had a hold on Eren's collar, flipping him over as well. When she turned her attention to the third boy, he was already backing away "We should go home."

"You little bitch!" the first flipped over bully yelled, trying to hit Mikasa, but the girl dodged, punching him in the face instead. Eren laughed.

"Nice hit!" he cheered, also punching the other guy who was now getting up "That'll teach you to mess with us and our friends!"

The three boys started backing off, still glaring at them, mostly Mikasa, and while Armin was glad that they were leaving, he still couldn't say he approved of all the violence. Problems were supposed to be solved by talking, his grandfather had always told him that.

"You okay Armin?" Eren extended his hand for him, wanting to help him up as he had slid to the ground against the wall at one point. Armin, however, was too proud to take his hand and got up on his own "I'm fine" he said, dusting off his clothes. He glanced towards Mikasa, only to notice her gone.

"This is yours, right?" the blond looked to his left, seeing Mikasa holding out his book. It had a little dent in the cover that wasn't there before and it was a bit dusty, but otherwise seemed fine. Breathing out a sigh of relief, he took it from the girl "Yeah. Thanks."

"You're welcome" Mikasa's face was still so blank, had been the whole time. Armin still wasn't sure about her, but she'd given him and Eren a hand, so maybe she was okay?

Armin really hoped she would be. Both him and Eren could really use another friend.