shadows of paradis [various!attack on titan x reader] [mafia!au]

(4) A Hacker, not a Fighter

"[Y/N], can we talk?"

She blinked, her mind still hazy from the verge of sleep. In the dim light of the hallway, she could make out the figure of a young man, his face partially shadowed. Her heart skipped a beat, a mix of curiosity and apprehension washing over her.

"Armin?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his expression serious yet tinged with an undercurrent of urgency. "May I come in?" he repeated softly, his blue eyes searching hers.

She stepped aside, allowing him to enter the room. The door closed behind him with a soft click, sealing them in the quiet of the night. The room was dimly lit by a small bedside lamp, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. Armin took a deep breath, running a hand through his blonde hair. "I'm sorry to bother you so late," he began, his voice low. "But there's something important we need to discuss."

The suspense in his tone sent a shiver down her spine. "What is it, Armin?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. She gestured for him to sit on the small couch by the window, while she settled into the chair opposite him.

"I just wanted to say... I'm sorry," he began, "I know things got heated back there in the mission with Levi and Eren, and I should have done more to defuse the situation. Also when Eren transformed..." The [H/C] haired girl reached out, placing a comforting hand on Armin's shoulder. "You can't blame yourself for what happened," she said, her voice gentle. "We're all under a lot of pressure, and emotions are running high. It's only natural that tensions would boil over eventually."

Armin nodded, a small smile ghosting across his lips. "Thanks," he said, his gratitude evident in his voice. "I'm glad that we're on the same team, you know. Even if... even if it might be wrong." he dozed off. ''I-I'm scared, [Y/N].'' She reached out, placing her hand gently on his. "Armin, I know this is scary. But you're one of the smartest and bravest people I've ever met. We'll face this together, and we'll protect each other." Armin's eyes lit up at her words "I just...I don't want to let anyone down. And this mission, it's so critical. Plus, how will anyone trust me? I used to work for the police and I... I betrayed them."

"You won't let anyone down," [Y/N] said firmly. "We trust you, Armin. I trust you. You didn't know what they were doing behind your backs, thinking they are the good guys. But it wasn't the case and people are allowed to change their minds and fight for other causes if they believe in them. And no matter what happens, we'll get through this together. You have my back, and I have yours."

He smiled, a genuine warmth spreading across his face. "I guess you might be right about this..."

''So... I heard they made you fill some papers?''

Blue eyes looked into hers confused. ''Huh? We didn't?''

''What? But Marco said...''

''No, they uh... tested Eren psychologically to make sure he's... up for this.'' the blond said before she could finish her sentence. The [H/C] didn't quite understand what he meant but she probably didn't want to know. Slowly, Armin's hand tightened around hers, a small gesture of solidarity and unspoken support.

"[Y/N]," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. "I'm really glad you're here. You've made this whole situation feel a lot less daunting."

Her heart fluttered at his words, and she couldn't help but smile. "I'm glad too, Armin. We're in this together." Finally, the blond stood, giving her a grateful nod. "I'll let you get some rest. We have a lot of training ahead of us."

As he moved to leave, he felt a swell of gratitude for the unexpected bond forming between them. "Goodnight. And thank you."

She gave him one last, heartfelt smile. "Goodnight. Sleep well."