Unwanted Power: An Armin Arlert Love Story

30. You Heroic Idiot

Armin had been right about them having a scout, there was a fourth intelligent titan with them. Erwin figured out their plan, the Beast Titan wanted to get rid of their horses so they couldn't run away, even if they didn't kill them, they wouldn't be able to get supplies and they'd just take Eren when everyone was too weak to fight. He wasn't going to go down without a fight. He separated the soldiers, some to protect Eren and some to protect the horses. Before leaving, Erwin shared a plan with Armin and Lexie, trusting them to tell the plan to Hange.

It came to the time for Eren to distract Reiner. Once they were ready. They used the Thunder Spears on him. A weapon similar to an arrow with explosives Lexie had improvised on the 57th expedition. These new ones were made to hurt the Armored Titan.

The 104th friends all tried with one thunder spear each at Reiner. They had worked.

"Do it again!" Hange ordered. "You each have one more thunder spear each. Fire again!"

"But... it's Reiner." Sasha said, voicing everyone's hesitation.

"C'mon, guys. We said we'd do it when it came to it!" Jean said, although it was obvious he didn't want to do it either. Still everyone followed and fired at the Armored Titan's nape one more time.

Reiner headless face was seen after the blast. Sasha and Connie couldn't help but cry at their fallen ex-comrade. Lexie and Mikasa approached Armin.

"Are you ok?" Lexie asked, although she had some tears in her eyes too.

"Yes, it's not like we could negotiate." Armin said. "We had no other choice."

But then Reiner's titan screamed, putting everyone on edge, expecting Bertholdt to come out.

"Shoot him again." Hange ordered.

"No, wait!" Armin called and pointed to a barrel that was thrown in the air and towards them. "Bertholdt must be in that barrel. We have to get away from the blast!"

"Move out!" Hange ordered.

Bertholdt didn't transform midair like they thought, instead, he went to Reiner and told him something. He then used his ODM gear to get closer to everyone and Armin took that opportunity to try and negotiate. Everyone stayed back, even Lexie, as they watched them talk. However, it was clear, Armin was not getting the upper hand. Mikasa and Lexie both sneaked closer to them. Just as Berthold tried to attack Armin, Mikasa jumped and started fighting him. She was able to cut off one of his ears, but he kicked her away and still tried to go for Armin, that is until Lexie stepped in front of him. Bertholdt's blade froze just inches from her face, he was shaking and frowned angrily.

"Why... why can't I kill you?" Bertholdt asked. That shocked Lexie and Armin, it was clear that they didn't know about her power either. Mikasa tried to fight him again but Bertholdt left instead.

"He is... different." Mikasa commented.

"Yeah, I saw it too." Armin agreed sadly. And then they watched Bertholdt go higher and higher.

"We have to take cover." Lexie said and the three of them hid behind a house just in time for Bertholdt transformation. The blast was strong and the three of them held each other closely, once the air cleared a little, they went to join their friends.

"Where is Hange's squad?" Jean asked.

"They were right under the blast zone." Armin answered sadly.

"Are you saying... the only ones who survived... are the seven of us?" Jean said "We can't let him get to the wall. He'll burn the other side and everyone will be done for."

"Armin." Mikasa called. "You are in charge now. We'll follow you." Armin looked around scared as everyone nodded at him. But he looked too scared.

"Lexie, you take over." Armin said.