Home is Where the Heart Is (Aruani Fanfic)

Coming to Terms

Armin flew through the air, his ODM Gear whizzing persistently, following his wife and best friend. Shooting both anchors into a tree, he released some gas and sped towards the canopy. Mikasa and Annie sped after him, worried about his state of mind. They found Armin standing on a large branch overlooking a valley. "Just behind us is a shit load of fighting and destruction. Who would've thought it would come to this?", Armin said, looking somberly towards the valley. He holstered the swords and handles, stretched, and crouched down near the trunk of the tree. Annie walked over to him and crouched down in front of him. "We'll get through this. We have each other. Once we take down Eren, we can change everything. The Faction War Accords, the documents, the government, everything. We can start over", Annie said, absently running her hands through Armin's hair. Mikasa stood next to them, her mind racing. She turned and looked at two best friends. Tears slowly fell from her eyes, sadness swelling in her chest. Sobs slowly escaped her, starting small until they shook her body. Armin looked up at her. Annie turned took her hand away from Armin's head. Armin stood shakenly and walked past a still crouching Annie towards a distraught Mikasa. He pulled his sister into his embrace, telling it's okay. "NO! IT'S NOT! IT'S MY FAULT JASMINE DIED! IF ONLY I LISTENED TO YOU, SHE WOULD BE SAFE RIGHT NOW!", she screamed, pushing away from Armin. "What are talking about? Mikasa, look at me", Armin said. As his voice waivered he grabbed her arm. Mikasa shrugged him off and turned. "LOOK AT ME!" Mikasa tensed, feeling Armin's chakra spike. Armin stepped forward and gripped her arm. Mikasa looked him in the eyes, tears streaking her face. "I let them in the house. Eren's soldiers found the house. I was preparing to get Jasmine out of there and come back for Annie. Everything went to shit and I-." Armin raised his hand and Mikasa stopped speaking. "I trusted you with the life of my daughter, my wife. What demon possessed you to try to leave the house?", Armin spat at Mikasa, his eyes starting to fade to black. "...Me. It was me. I told Mikasa to get Jasmine to safety and to find you", Annie said, her words echoing from behind Armin. He let go of Mikasa. "I made so many precautions. All for nothing. My house, my life,....my daughter is gone. Why didn't you trust me? Why would you allow me to go through all this?", Armin said, sinking to his knees. He hung his head. Annie walked over to him, crouched, and hugged him from behind. She cried into his back. "I'm sorry. I...I...I should've trusted you. This is my-". She stopped speaking, feeling steam rise off of Armin. She felt a dark power radiating off him. Armin trembled, sending waves of dark energy off. He tilted his head up. Annie and Mikasa could see him crying blood. "Tenshi no Gensoku: Seinaru Sukui no Tsuna. (Angelic Principle: Holy Chains of Salvation)". Four golden chains sprouted from the base of Annie's spine. She wrapped them around Armin's chest and his right leg and stabbed them into the tree trunk and branch. "Armin, honey, come back to me. I need you to stay with me. Mikasa and I can't do this alone." Armin struggled against the chains and tried to stand to no avail. He spiked his chakra and an aura erupted around him. "Get off me", Armin said, his voice tainted with hurt and disgust. He stood slowly, the chains weighing him down. Annie summoned four more chains and snaked around Armin's arms. Armin flexed arms and they shattered. Annie staggered a little and fell to one knee. Mikasa raced forward and hit pressure points in Armin's arms and legs. He fell and let out a low growl. "ARMIN! YOU'RE HURTING YOUR WIFE! THE SAME WOMAN THAT WOULD DIE FOR YOU! STOP THIS MADNESS SO THE ICE QUEEN CAN HAVE HER PRINCE OF COWARDS!", Mikasa screamed at Armin, trying to get through to him. Armin looked behind him at Annie, who was struggling to keep her chains strong. He blinked twice, his eyes returning to their normal ocean blue. The blood on his face burned away to black ash. The wind blew it away. Annie let go of Armin and performed The Thousands of Healing on herself. "I promise to trust you from now until I perish. Please just don't leave me", Annie said, walking over to Armin. Mikasa lifted him and hit pressure points again. Armin flexed his arms and legs. "Okay. I trust you, both of you", Armin said. He reached for his handles and prepared to use his ODM Gear. "Promise me you guys won't keep secrets from me", he said. "We promise", Annie and Mikasa said in unison. Armin pulled them into a hug. "Don't let me slip into the abyss. Keep me in the light", Armin said, tears streaming down his face. He pulled back and wiped his face. They all nodded in agreement. They turned towards the edge of the branch facing the valley and watched the sunrise before speeding off the Farm.