Clarity-AruAni Fanfic

What's Next?

Taking down the horde of titans wasn't as hard once you have, not one but, two shifters on your side. Fighting did take up most of the day and lasted until the late evening. Compared to the large number of titans attacking the wall. Just a few casualties were a sacrifice. It was huge improvement compared to the past few years of losing hundreds. Having the extra help was an advantage too.

Annie and Eren had to go into quick recovery as they were tired out from their long period of being in Titan form. Only having minor injuries when more than 5 titans attacked them at once.

Armin sat in Annie's room and next to her bed as she slept. Mikasa stayed with Eren. It was now midnight when he finished reading his book and checking the stats of todays mission. Erwin always had him doing the paperwork since he was best at these kind of things. The task wasn't very hard so he didn't mind doing it.

"I better get back to my cabin." he said looking at the clock on the wall. One last look at Annie and he started putting his things away.

Armin threw his bag on his back and put the chair away at the desk. He walked over to her bed again and quietly gave a quick peck on her forehead. Then blew the candle out on her bed stand. When he turned to leave a hand wrapped around his wrist.

"Annie?" He said as he saw that she was awake.

"Stay with me."

Armin couldn't see it with the dim moonlight coming from the window but, he swore that a slight blush was on her cheeks. "If you want me to."

A nod came from her as she scooted to one side of the bed.

Armin shrugged off his bag and kicked off his shoes. Lifting up the covers to slid under them with her.

This was a rare moment coming from Annie and he wasn't sure they would get to do this again. Armin was nervous about sharing a bed with a girl but, it calmed him when he remembered it was Annie. He wasn't sure if she was fully aware of what she asked for and how she would react in the morning. It didn't matter now since he was already laying next to her.

Annie scooted closer to him and wrapped an arm around him. "Sorry for making you stay." She said.

He put an arm under her head and she laid against his chest.

"I just didn't want to be alone."

Armin felt a few drops of water through his shirt and realized she was crying. Why? "You have me." he replied. "I'm always here."

He looked down and wiped the tears off her face. Then gave her a kiss on the lips. Annie responded with her own as the tears stopped. Armin is the reason why she's still fighting herself and being more of a forgiving person everyday. Sharing this kiss with him was the reassurance of hope for them. Glad that she wasn't alone anymore.

Armin was the first pull from it. "We better go to sleep. You did a lot today, Female Titan." he said with a smile before laying back on the pillow.

Annie nodded in response.

"Goodnight Annie." Armin kissed the top of her head when she started dozing off on his chest.

...

The morning sun raised from the horizon as Annie started waking up from the light. She heard slight snoring next her. Then, remembering last night, a slight pink came to her cheeks. Her bangs were casting a shadow on her eyes as her hair was all over.

Annie got up slowly as she realized that her hair was down, she was only in a tank top and shorts. Not wanting Armin to see her like this, she sat up in bed and started to pull off the covers when an arm wrapped around her waist.

Armin pulled her back into bed and nuzzled at her neck. He got comfortable once she was next to him again. The snoring proceeded and Annie just stared at the ceiling as she was stuck with Armin cuddling with her.

"Great." she sighed as swiped the hair out her face. This is why she always put her hair up. It must have come out when she was sleeping and now it was constantly in her eyes.

Although they did give everyone a few days off for the injured to heal, she didn't feel like laying around in bed all day. On the other hand, if it was with Armin she didn't mind much.

Annie nudged his shoulder and shook him a bit more when he didn't response at first. "Hey. Armin."

His face scrunched up and his eyes slowly started opening. The bright light hit him. Armin hid in her neck, away from the morning sun.

"It's time to get up." Annie said as soon as he groaned.

Armin let go and sat up in bed to stretch. He yawned as he wiped his eyes in attempt to get used to being awake. "Good mor-" he shut up as soon as he saw Annie standing at the foot of the bed.

She quickly got out of bed when she got out of his grasp. Then walked to the foot of the to grab some clothes from the trunk. Her attire wasn't something she wanted him to see right away but, it was too late as he stopped mid sentence to stare at her. "Armin quit looking." she ordered as she stood up with her clothes.

"S-sorry!" He yelled as he pulled the blankets over his head to hide from being caught staring. Armin couldn't help but blush at her figure. She normally didn't show so much skin and her hair was always up. Annie was beautiful. If only the guys knew what they were missing out on. Wait. Forget them! She should be for him only to see this way. "Stupid Armin!" He yelled from underneath the covers.

Annie chuckled at his reaction to her. She placed the clothes on the bed and made her way to his side. "It's okay Armin." she said as she pulled the covers away from him.

Armin grabbed her and pulled them closer on the bed. They sat in silence as the morning birds chirped outside the window and minutes have passed.

"Annie? What are we exactly?" Armin asked, breaking the tension. This question has been in the air since their cadet days. It has been 2 years since then. It was something both of them haven't had time to think about.

"I don't really know. What do you think?" Annie asked.

"Are we a couple now?"

"I guess so."

Armin smiled at her response. It felt good to get that off his chest. "Good."

"Why do you say that?"

He grabbed her hand and rubbed the top with his thumb. "Well.. Since the first day I saw you. I never thought it would be possible for us to be together. Especially someone like me being with an amazing person like you."

Annie didn't know that he felt this way towards her back then. Armin actually liked her since they first met?

"Really?" She asked him.

"Of course." Armin stated. He grabbed a lock of her hair and brushed it behind her ear. "I've never seen you with your hair down." He knew this was a rare moment for both of them. The ability to let down their guards for a short while was relaxing.

"Having my hair down is really annoying." She replied with an annoyed face and tried pushing it out of her eyes.

"It looks nice." Armin said. "I like it." He sighed after awhile and laid back on the pillows with Annie next to him. "Everything feels right. I have you now, my asthma medication has more refills, and I actually shared a bed with a female without freaking out."

"Really? Compared to the world we're currently living in?" Annie asked with doubt in her voice.

"Yeah. But you're my clarity so, as long as I have you. I'm just fine." he replied and started looking around. "So..."

Annie looked up at him and also noticed the atmosphere. "Hmm.."

"What's next?"