Trust me. (Aruani) [Contains manga spoilers]

Chapter 2, The shattered crystal

Somehow the feeling was really peaceful. Being there felt like she was at peace and in a safe place. She had no idea how much time had passed since then though and she was also having some gaps in her memory. Sometimes she had got really anxious of everything. The lonely feeling had grown larger and it even made her feel more scared than she usually was. Why was she alone in here. She wondered if she was already dead and this was heaven or hell. It looked like a heaven since everything seemed so bright and calm but she knew herself that her place would be in hell someday.

Steps came closer and made Annie to get on alert. She took a fighting position. Her father had taught her a lot. First the character was a shadow like. She couldn't recognize the person before it had got enough close to her. Normally she'd relax her arms and feel relieved. Now she felt hatred towards him and just tightened her hands into fists. She kept a serious, pissed looking expression. She shook slightly because deep inside she still cared for him and didn't want to do this but the feeling of getting betrayed by him was overpowering.

"Annie", Armin exhaled and had a relieved look on him. He gulped and gave a sad look to her when he noticed her expression. He took careful steps closer and kept his eyes on her.

"Don't get any closer Arlert", Annie spoke and gritted her teeth together. She hissed and shook more. She felt like she couldn't keep herself together. Seeing him after a long period was too much. She was happy but didn't show it and tried to change that fact since she knew that she shouldn't trust him or even be with him anymore. She should just get rid of him. He was her enemy now. He'd just betray her again.

Armin decided to do as she said for now. He kept looking at her sadly, worried in a way. After some time he sighed and now stared down to his feet.

"It's been such a long time Annie, nine months..", Armin spoke calmly. He wanted to try talking to her since he knew that she was a lot better at fighting than him and could easily get rid of him. Maybe he had a chance to win like this. Using his brains as always. Annie felt nervous and kept breathing out of sync. She tried thinking of something. A way to kill him. She didn't want to do so but as a warrior she had to. She'd need to get back to Reiner and Zeke. After her mission she could go to home again.

"We got to the ocean too..", Armin continued and smiled a bit. He dared to lift his head up again. He wanted to see her. He felt like she'd disappear any moment.

"Ahah.. Just try. I won't fall for the same trick again Armin. I won't be that good person you want me to be again", Annie spoke and shook more. She closed her eyes for a while and a tiny tear escaped from her eye. She just felt scared but didn't want to admit it since she needed to be strong to survive.

"Armin!" Mikasa hurried to the crystal and started beating it with her fists. They only ended up bleeding. She felt worried over him. He was like a brother to her.

"Stop it! Lets get the others first!" Hanji worried and grabbed to her, lifting her up and carrying her on her shoulder though she kept struggling. This was something they had never seen before and for now they'd need to stay calm.

Armin took steps closer again. This time he had a determined look on him. He had noticed how nervous Annie had seemed and now he was relying on the fact that Annie never killed him. Maybe she'd spare him again.

"Stay away", Annie raised her voice and was ready to attack. She kept thinking of him being an enemy that she needed to get rid of.

Armin wouldn't stop. He kept walking. When he got too close, Annie decided to attack. She punched him to cheek first. Armin kept the same look. Her punches were weak. Then she punched his chest and soon she was beating his chest with both of her hands. She'd need to calm down.  It was too much for her.

"You're actually a good person", Armin spoke calmly and stared at the distance. He had realized something and that's why he didn't stop her from beating him.

"Shut up! You're just using that to get my trust again aren't you?" Annie spoke and kept beating his chest. She wondered why he kept standing still and didn't give any signs of getting hurt. Maybe he had got stronger than her. Maybe she had got weak.

"We're actually inside your mind. That's what I think. This is your area, all your feelings are here. This must be the calmest place you know, right? That's also why I know you are a good person. The place is so bright and beautiful. There's no way that a bad person could have such a pure mind", Armin spoke calmly and smiled a bit.

Annie had calmed down while he had been talking. Now she was leaning against him. She felt powerless. There was no way of winning him now. He had pushed her over the limit again. Now she was taking calm breaths.

"No.. Where my father is.. is the calmest and safest place to be in", Annie spoke carefully and quietly. She had never been talkative because she had no right to make friends and she'd only need to focus on her mission.

Armin glanced at her now. He kept standing still. He felt puzzled and didn't know what to do. Annie had done many bad things and everyone else saw her as a bad person. He wanted to help her but for now he had no idea on how to and she'd most likely have a lot of information to share with them. He should get her out of the crystal first and let the others decide what to do with her.

Annie was shedding tears. She couldn't resist against it anymore. Not in a place like this. She couldn't keep her image up. Armin's desire to help her was getting stronger. He slowly wrapped his arms around her. For a moment he wondered what he was doing. She was mankind's enemy but he actually had a plan on his mind. After a while Annie hugged him back. It felt good to have someone to care for her. Someone that didn't hate her and kept her safe.

The members of the Survey corps got back to the crystal after a while. Only ten minutes had passed since Armin had got stuck inside the crystal. Inside the crystal it had felt more like a hour. Just when Eren was going to go to the crystal angrily, it shattered to pieces and Mikasa pulled him away. Armin and Annie fell on the ground and opened their eyes. Armin was the one to stand up first. It had worked. His plan to get her out. Eren took heavy steps to there and pulled Armin away from Annie before grabbing to her collar. She seemed a lot weaker. The crystal had weakened her and she was now showing more of her true feelings too. She couldn't bring herself to fight back. Mikasa pulled out her blades and went to Annie. She placed one of them on Annie's neck. She could kill her any moment.

"W-wait!" Armin raised his voice. He really cared for her and wanted that everyone would take things calmly but that was impossible when so many hated her and many dealed with things using violence.

"Yes, wait. We need to question her. Tie her up and take that ring of hers", Hanji hummed seriously. The brats did so and let her and Levi take Annie with them. Eren and Mikasa wouldn't let Armin go after them. He worried for her since Levi and Hanji usually tortured people to get information out of them and since she was a titan shifter it'd only be easier to torture her. They wouldn't need to worry about her dying while they'd be doing it since her wounds would heal. Annie looked behind for the last time and her eyes met with Armin's before Levi kicked the door shut. They were heading to a lower floor to torture her.

Her heart shattering to tiny pieces like the shattered crystal.