Indefinitely - Armin X Reader

Chapter 15 | Memories

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Before leaving HQ

I managed to track down Armin as he was just about to finish up refilling his gear. He was sitting alone in a corner, legs crossed on the ground as there was no where which he could be off the ground that wasn't already inhibited by people. He was deep in thought, eyebrows furrowed, and I could guess why. We were about to leave safety and make a break for the wall, abandoning the city we had spent the last few years of our life in. We'd spent the last 5 years of our life here; it had saved us, taken us in when there was nowhere else to go. And now...

"Hey." I called softly, walking towards him. He looked up in surprise, and upon seeing me relaxed his expression and offered me a small smile.

"Hi." He replied, patting the ground next to him, and I took a seat. I rested my legs in front of me, trying to get rid of the ache that had taken hold in them, and watched on as the last few trainees moved around, getting ready to leave. In the small moment of respite, I examined some of the bruises I had sustained during the day, and it looked almost comical; black and blue spots littering my arms, and it would surely be the same on my legs. I wasn't looking forward to the full extent of the pain I would feel the next day.

"Scared?" I suggested, looking at him earnestly and ceasing to examine my arms.

"Terrified." He answered with a sheepish smile playing on his lips, and he softly bumped his shoulder against mine.

"Petrified." I joked back, finally admitting my feelings. "I can't believe that we have to leave our home... again." Armin replied with a quiet hum, looking down. 

"It seems like we can't keep anything for long in this world." He murmured quietly. 

"It does seem that way." I sighed, and then felt guilty for making him feel worse. I reached out for his hand, taking it in mine. "I know you've heard me say this before, but please... make sure you stay safe on the way to the wall. I.... I can't lose anyone else..."

Armin looked up at me and immediately leant over, pulling me into a comforting hug. 

"You won't lose me, I promise; I'm not going anywhere. I'll... be more careful this time." He whispered softly. His hand was resting on the back of my head, holding me close and gently running his fingers through my hair.

It occurred to me then just how much I had gotten to hold him over the past 24 hours, and I felt butterflies buffet at my stomach.

"I need you to stay safe as well." He replied. "You've always been my closest and... most important friend to me... even before Eren."

I smiled at the memory of us meeting.

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I was walking the streets alone, a rather small child for the age of 6. The children within the walls were encouraged to grow up fast, to start exploring when they were young - there was only a limited area that they could roam, so there was little to fear. No wild animals could get inside the city, and there were guards everywhere you looked, even though they were never doing much. It was then that I saw a small blond boy who looked around my age, sitting by the river reading a book where I had been walking along all afternoon. His legs were crossed, his eyes examining each page, almost drinking in every word he saw. I got excited at the presence of another kid and started running towards him, and he looked up. The second I saw his eyes I was so entranced by them that I almost stumbled; it was like my whole world got brighter, the colors around me suddenly so much more vivid. I had never seen eyes like them; they were a beautiful, shimmering blue that looked like the sky. The boy on the other hand almost immediately got to his feet, book clutched to his chest looking nervous.