Trust me. (Aruani) [Contains manga spoilers]

Chapter 1, A seashell

The moment Armin had been waiting for all these years was now in front of him. It wasn't just a childhood's dream anymore. He could actually feel it now. The wind and the fresh air. The ocean. Right away he had taken steps in the water. The waves kept moving at his feet. It felt strange at first since he wasn't use to it and the water was a bit chilly too but gladly the warm sun rays gave a warm feeling to it. Yes, the weather was great. Very sunny one.

Armin kept smiling. Mikasa had panicked like a little girl when she had got to the water and a wave had reached her. No wonder since this was a totally new thing to her too. They had never seen an ocean before and they had never been so sure of there being an ocean anywhere. Armin felt happy to see that Mikasa had been part of his and Eren's dream all along without him realizing it earlier. He gave a warm smile to the slightly frightened girl who then nervously smiled back and blushed from the embarrassment.

"I told you, Eren. There are salt-water lakes so huge. What I said was true, right?" Armin spoke excited but calmly and stared at the figure in front of him who just kept staring at the scenery and hadn't said a word yet.

"Yeah... It's so big.." Eren finally spoke but there was no emotion in his voice. He didn't seem happy. Armin agreed. The ocean was huge indeed.

"Eren, beyond the wall is.. the ocean and beyond the ocean.. is freedom. I've believed that all this time", Armin continued but his happy expression dropped down when he noticed how Eren didn't seem interested. Eren's next words surprised Armin and Mikasa, both of them. 

"On the other side of the ocean, is our enemy. It's all exactly the same as my father's memories. Over there.. the enemy on that side.. if we kill them all, then we.. will finally become free?"

Those were Eren's words. He sounded calm and showed no emotions but deep inside he was full of hatred as he pointed at the scenery with his finger. Armin knew his best friend well. He knew that he had revenge in his mind again. Armin and Mikasa were different apart from that. Armin had always dreamed of seeing the ocean and in the end Mikasa just wanted to live in peace. This seemed enough for them but not for Eren.

Armin felt like the happy feeling was suddenly gone. He kept staring at the seashell he had in his hands. After a while he lifted his head up and stared at the scenery again. The sun was shining at him. Eren had moved aside and was back to the shore with Mikasa who felt worried of him. Something suddenly flashed in Armin's mind. For some reason he was thinking of Annie. He sighed. In the end he felt bad for her. He felt like he had betrayed her. He wondered if they should try to get her out of the crystal again.

Suddenly Armin heard someone laughing further away. It was a laugh mixed with despair, sadness and exhaustion. For a moment Armin mistook it to Annie's laugh but as he turned around to look he noticed Eren laughing. Of course the tone had been too manly to fit Annie's voice. Maybe he missed her and his brains tried deceiving him. He didn't want to admit it though. He took quick steps to Eren. Captain Levi got there before him.

"What.. brat?" Levi spoke emptily. He seemed more tired than usually and couldn't bring himself to be that angry even. Commander Hanji came right after him and soon Armin was there too. Connie, Jean and Sasha were further away playing with the water and having great time.

Eren quickly grabbed to Levi's collar with both of his hands. He had a bit crazy look on him and he was sweating a lot. He was also breathing heavily as he was losing his mind. Levi didn't mind. Hanji separated them right away.

"Eren, tell us", Hanji raised her voice and stared at Eren strictly.

"Haha, Annie. You remember her right. I know how we can get her out of that crystal", Eren laughed a bit and took a deep breath.

"Sit down Eren. You seem sick", Mikasa worried and tried pulling him down to sit with her but he just pulled his hand away from her grip. Mikasa felt even more worried now but let it be.

"Eren, calm down! Please! Besides I have an idea and I am quite sure that it will be a better one than yours", Armin spoke carefully and Eren seemed pissed. Soon he fainted and Mikasa caught him before he would have hit the ground.

"What the hell is wrong with that kid now?" Levi snapped finally. He felt irritated.

"Burnout?" Hanji suggested "Maybe he only deserves it after going against us---" she spoke.

"Hanji.. let it.. be", Levi sighed and stared at the ground now. Again she had reminded him of Erwin.

"O-of course. Well it's a lot to take in. Memories and visions. He must be tired. Anyway, your idea.. Armin. Lets hear it out!" Hanji spoke and seemed curious now.

Armin was thinking of using his new titan powers to communicate with Annie through the crystal. He suspected that somehow he could get in touch with her since they had been close.

Commander Hanji saw that they could at least try it. He was a smart boy after all. They had nothing to lose now. Captain Levi didn't mind and Eren was resting in his room. Connie, Jean and Sasha were keeping an eye on him. Mikasa had come to see how Armin would manage to carry out his idea. She felt like Eren didn't need her. At least not now.

"Alright! Lets do this Arlert!" Hanji cheered. Normally Moblit would be there and make sure that she would not act all crazy but now he was dead. Moblit had saved her from the explosion back then when Bertolt had turned into his titan form. He had pushed her in a well to safety. She had only lost her other eye.

Armin nodded and took slow steps towards the crystal. Mikasa was on alert. It was actually unnecessary since there was no way that Annie who was inside the crystal could do something bad to him before she'd have enough time to react. Mikasa had as sharp senses as a stray cat. At least Armin used to say so. She had heard him talking with Eren about it. She didn't know if she should feel offended of it or just stop caring. In a year she hadn't said anything of it to them but it kept coming to her head. To think that they'd compare her to a cat. Well cats are cute!

First Armin brought his hand on the crystal and closed his eyes. He felt disappointed when nothing happened. He kept thinking about her and the memories he had of her. He sighed and turned around, letting go after he had been like that for five minutes.

"Maybe you need to be like that for longer? Ten minutes? Thirty minutes.. one hour.. two hours. Three hours?!" Hanji raised her voice and laughed excited. She couldn't wait to see it work.

Mikasa kept rolling her eyes and smelling the scarf she had got from Eren.

"Ah! I know! Give her a kiss!" Hanji felt like she'd choke to death soon when she kept laughing.

Armin turned red right away and kept shaking his head. Mikasa was close to taking her swords out as she felt like cutting Hanji's head off. There was no way that she'd accept that blonde monster touching her friend like that even if there was a crystal between them.

"H–hug?" Hanji gulped. Armin scratched his head as he tried thinking of something. A hug could actually work. He'd be closer like that. Maybe one hand wasn't enough. Most likely lips wouldn't be enough either.

"Fine. I'll try my body then", Armin wondered and got ready to hug the crystal. Hanji turned red and collapsed. Again she was laughing crazily. It had sounded so wrong in her mind. She stood up quickly and stared at the scene curiously. She tried waiting patiently.

Slowly Armin brought his arms around the crystal and closed his eyes. He imagined the ocean, Annie and their memories. Only happy things. Mikasa was arguing with Hanji. Hanji seemed to enjoy teasing the brats even more now that she was their commander.

There was a great big flash and both Mikasa and Hanji collapsed down and felt blinded for a while. There had been so much of light for some reason and so suddenly. After the while Mikasa turned to look at the crystal and her mouth dropped. Hanji gulped as she saw the same sight. What had happened, they wondered.

Armin was inside the crystal. Frozen still and having his eyes shut just like Annie.

Like a seashell with two beautiful pearls.