Rogue

Bonus#4 Unexpected Arrivals

Author's Note: Hey guys! Welcome to the LAST BONUS CHAPTER BEFORE PART 2! This bonus is basically a retelling of the stories that Armin, Mikasa, and Rogue shared with one another before their split way back in chapter 7. It's a 'childhood fluff' chapter - probably the last happy one before we get to all the horror, bloodshed, and sadness of part 2 that I have planned!

The sky was clear as a looking glass, blue and pristine as the illustration of the sea in his book. After an annual slumber, Shiganshina had awoken again like animals from hibernation. The air smelt of freshly baked bread from a bakery just a block away and people were already partaking in their daily duties. It was the start of a wonderful day.

Armin bit his lip in concentration as he wrapped the durable twine around his long stick of bamboo, circling the top with precision. He and Mikasa were currently sitting on the Jaeger's doorsteps slaving over a set of homemade fishing rods with Mrs. Jaeger casually sweeping behind them and the doctor taking over dish duty - peeking through the open window every great once in a while to check on their progress. Armin had to admit, he and his friend were doing a fairly great job with their rods. The nine-year-old was using a design that his grandfather had shown him, the man having been a fisherman all his life. The project was simple enough. All the two had to do was cut two slots into the bamboo, one on top and the bottom, allowing them to loop twine around the pole before bringing the woven juke through the middle of the hollow bamboo. To ensure that the twine stayed in place, the children wrapped several pieces of twine horizontally around the pole in several places - keeping an even length between them. Sure, the rods didn't have the luxury of a reel, but according to his grandfather, they did their job back in the day.

Tethering the final knot, Armin then admired and studied his work. He had made a rod like this once but hadn't in a while. Even though he was rusty, he did a fine job. Mikasa too, did wonderfully. To complete their tasks, the blonde boy then opened his small satchel and retrieved two hooks without lures that his grandfather had given him and handed one to his friend before proceeding with attaching his hook.

"So you two are going fishing in Maria today?"

Upon hearing Mrs. Jaeger's query, the two children turned to face Carla who bore a pleasant grin as usual.

"Yeah, we're going fishing." Mikasa replied with a soft smile. "It's been a while since I've fished."

Carla nodded, Armin knowing that Mrs. Jaeger wouldn't dare say that Mikasa had not partook in such an activity since her parents' murder nearly a year ago. Since that day, Mikasa never mentioned or expressed any desire to take part in the sport until they began to grow very close to their friend that they had made on that faithful night of bloodshed.

"Ah, sounds wonderful. It's such a nice day today. Not too hot nor too cold. Your fishing poles look very good! Did your grandpa teach you to make those Armin?"

The boy smiled and nodded. He owed his knowledge of many things to his grandfather - the only guardian he had left since his parent's death before he was a year old. It was just another thing he had in common with his friend Mikasa, the two having lost their parents to some unprecedented force. The children often wondered if their friend had the same in common as well, but facts written in firm ink made that theory impossible - at least that's what humanity guessed.

"I see." Carla smiled as she put away her broom and grabbed a moist cloth to wipe the windows. As he threaded the twine into the small wire loop on the hook, Armin still felt Mrs. Jaeger's eyes upon him. To Armin, the Jaegers were like a second family, the parents he never had. Everyone in Shiganshina knew the couple to be kind and caring people. They loved kids but couldn't have any of their own - welcoming Mikasa with open arms when she had no home to return to and treating Armin like their own son as well. So it was only natural for Carla to express her concern and curiosity with what they were doing. "So, are you going fishing with another friend of yours? I see you made a third pole."