Striking Back at the Veins (An Eremin Fanfiction) [SNK/AOT AU]

Chapter 12 - Battle Scars of Patience

My slumber was interrupted by an adolescent scream. I immediately knew whom it belonged too. I rushed out of my bedroom and down the hallway to Armin's room who was clenching his hair in his hands, tears streaming down his saturated face as he sat up in his bed and agonizingly shrieked. He had had nightmares before, but none this bad. I ran over to the broken boy and buried him into my chest. He had been having nightmares a lot more frequently ever since his dad was reported missing but none as bad as this. He was uncontrollably shaking in my arms. His voice constantly collapsed on itself as he tried to take in heavy breaths. My mother had a night shift work so it was only us alone in the house which didn't help his anxiety.

The moon provided a glowing light through his window to give a dim light in the darkened room. He grabbed my shirt and buried his face closer into my stomach. I began gently sliding my fingers through his matted hair. His heavy breathing gradually became lighter as he slightly came up so that his head was now on my shoulder, leaving a wet tear patch on my tank top I was wearing to bed. His sobs quietened. I continued to run my fingers through his blond hair which I hoped was helping with soothing him.

"Shhh, it's okay Armin, let it out, let the pain go." I hushed in his ear. He clenched my body tighter as the tears began to harden. After minutes of silence, I quietly whispered his name in a questioning manner, no answer was replied. I suddenly heard the softest noise of Armin breathing unconsciously on my shoulder. He had fallen asleep. I laid the exhausted boy down back on his bed, carefully placing his head on his pillow and pulled the quilt gently over his resting body.

His soft snores were so adorable and I found myself smiling at the perfect mess in front of me. My lips travelled down to the sleeping boy and a gentle kiss was placed on his forehead. His nose twitched in the slightest when I pulled away. I turned to walk back to my room ,convinced he had calmed down. A hand suddenly grasped around my wrist startling me back. I was met with two pleading blue orbs surrounded by a drained red. He was still laying on his pillow, his fringe covering most of his face.

"Please. I- I don't want to be alone... " He hesitated.

I was surprised by his proposal but I agreed. I sat back on the bed and pushed his fringe back behind his ear. He maneuvered onto his back and our eyes locked.

"Sta- Stay with me, Eren?" I gave him a small nod and laid next to him. Both our heads were on the same pillow, my hand never leaving his face. He grabbed his quilt and pulled it over both our bodies.

Another tear crept it's way onto Armin's cheek which I quickly brushed away. I pulled him closer to me so that I could stroke the back of his head again. Armin let out a small moan of comfort as I did this. He curled into my body like a kitten. As my hand stayed in his hair my other wrapped around his waist.

"Always Armin... Always." The blond drifted once more into a restless sleep. He tossed and turned throughout the night, and I stayed up to make sure to stroke his hair as the night terrors tormented his sleep.

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Fear is not what gets you killed when you are fending for your life, it's panic. If you panic in a time where you need to remain focused and rely on the task of survival at hand, it will not end will and will presumably end in the ending of your life. Fear on the other hand is essential for survival. That was the first lesson Armin taught me. Controlling your fear so that it wouldn't turn into panic. The mid afternoon heat was starting to taunt and tease me with urges to give up, lay on the cool ground and stay there. The salty perspiration from my body was so poignant that the ocean would be jealous of my odour.

What I assumed would be physical training involving laps, training techniques and weapon demonstrations were anything but. Instead Armin seemed to focus on my mental training. A lot more draining if you asked me. We were approximately half way to this unknown town of Karanase when Armin decided to stop. We had been walking non-stop through this mountainous terrain since we had gotten up this morning. I was so eager to rest my aching feet and legs from the tiresome journey. Unfortunately Armin had something else in mind.