Call of the Broken (and Eremin fanfiction)

What Happened?

Eren's eyelids started to close, from how tired he was, as he rocked backwards and forwards in the rocking chair. He hadn't dared close his eyes all night as he watched Armin intently, waiting for him to wake up. As they were riding back to Wall Rose, Armin had passed out on the back of the horse and hadn't woken up since. After they arrived back at headquarters, Eren had helped change Armin's clothes before laying him gently in the bed. He'd sat in the rocking chair next to the bed and hadn't moved for the rest of the night. No way was he going to leave Armin's side. Eren's eyelids fell closed as he leaned his head back. He couldn't stay awake any longer. He then jerked awake as there was a gentle knock on the door woke him with a start. Mikasa didn't wait for an answer before she came in. She frowned at Eren, noticing the dark circles under his eyes.

"Have you been awake all night?" she asked. Eren pressed his fingers to his temple and nodded. Mikasa sighed.

"What did you expect, Mikasa? I wasn't going to leave him...not again," he sighed. Mikasa's face softened. Eren had told her a lot about Armin; she knew they were very close when they were younger. She could understand how he was feeling right now, being re united with someone you cared about so much after so many years of believing they were dead. It was a feeling she would give anything for.

Eren looked up as Armin gently started to stir on the bed. Eren stood up eagerly, no longer feeling tired. He looked at Mikasa.

"Is it alright if you..." Mikasa cut him off by nodding and giving a small smile. She turned around and left the room. They both knew it would be better for Armin that, when he came to, Eren was the one there. He'd be confused if there was anyone else there, all crowding him and demanding answers. Eren crouched down by Armin's bed as he slowly opened his eyes.

"E-Eren?" he said in a weak voice. Eren smiled.

"Hey, I'm here," he said in a gentle tone. Armin's eyes widened as he sat straight upwards, looking around alarmed with a look of pure panic on his face.

"Where am I?!" he cried. Eren sat up on the bed and placed his hands on Armin's shoulders, trying to calm him down.

"Hey, hey! Try not to move too fast! You're still very weak!" he said in a soothing but firm tone. Armin took a shaky breath as he looked into Eren's eyes, calming himself down. "Ok, we're at the Scout's headquarters. You remember the Scout Regiment?" he asked. Armin nodded. How could he forget the scout regiment? He then noticed The Wings of Freedom on the side of Eren's jacket and laughed slightly. Eren frowned. "What?" he asked, confused. 

"You, Eren Jaeger, joined the scouts?" Armin asked in disbelief.

"Well...yeah, what's so funny about that?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's just weird how much has changed. I mean...I was out there for so long the days started to blend together. I didn't realize how much how much time at passed," Armin said. Eren looked down as he said this.

"Armin...I'm so sorry...I didn't know...I should have come look for you," Eren sighed, sitting up on the edge of the bed and taking Armin's hand. Armin smiled gently as he lifted his hand up and gently placed it on Eren's cheek.

"Hey, it's ok. I wouldn't have believed I was alive either," he said. Eren smiled as he looked up at his best friend. Armin frowned then.

"Wait, I thought you had to be at least fifteen to join the scouts," he said.

"What do you mean?" Eren asked, frowning again.

"Well...you're only eleven, right? Or twelve? I can't tell if it's been three years or four," Armin said, still smiling. Eren's heart sunk. How could Armin not realize...?

"Armin...it hasn't been three years...or four...it's been seven." Armin froze as the smile left his face. He started shaking as he looked down at his hands.

"Seven years...so your fifteen?" Eren nodded. "And...I'm fifteen..." Eren nodded again. Armin's eyes widened as he covered his mouth, tears forming in the corner of his eyes from the sudden shock. Seven years...that was almost a decade. Almost a decade of his life he'd lost.

"Armin...what happened?" Eren asked then.