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The pounding in Eren’s chest only made the matter more difficult, and harder to bear, but no, he wasn’t going to have to bear anything, because he was okay – and nothing was wrong, and he was alright – he wasn’t in trouble.

His heart raced in his ribs, which were now only a cage encasing his fury as that organ pumped acid into his veins, suddenly igniting his inner rage and worry and concern and sending him flying past the other members of the Recon Corps.

His palms were filled with perspiration as he snapped the release on the maneuvering gear, scrambling for the gas controls; he felt his shaking fingers hit the wrong switch. He had no time to be amazed as he suddenly flew faster, wires whirring as he struggled to keep them focused on the trees ahead.

He could barely get each breath in and out with his heaving chest, pushing down his anxiety in the pit of his stomach, but only to feel it rising up again with rage and hate and worry and concern and that terrible taste of vomit in the back of his throat.

The trembling limbs that he reluctantly owned were hurtling through the air unevenly, miles past the other members by now. He had no time to think about that. All of the sudden his friend’s fate dawned upon him in a flash –

He’s dead.

A shriek sounded from the patch of trees ahead, one so desperate and pained that it caused his head to snap in the direction, and his raging emerald eyes suddenly glistened with tears, prickling heat originating from where they streamed. He knew that voice. It was higher pitched, fearful, longing, -

Armin’s.

He swallowed and parted his cracked lips, only to tear a scream from his lungs and let the air take it away from him, ripping it out of his body like pulling out a tooth from one reluctant mouth.

“Armin!”

The tears clouded his vision, but he managed to make out a large cloud of steam rise up from the treetops.

He furrowed his brows as the wind ruffled his hair, zooming faster and faster until suddenly –

His gas ran out.

He shouted as he plummeted from the sky and onto the ground below, twisting and contorting his body in an effort to snap the wires into action and snag onto a tree in the distance.

He spiraled down, his fear manifesting in the pit of his stomach and his hope diminishing every time his attempt to hit the release failed.

He whimpered as he reached down and slapped the whole piece of metal, hopefully setting off the switch. When nothing happened, he squinted his eyes and tried desperately to locate the lever himself.

Finally, a pair of cables extracted themselves from the metal and shot off into the distance, and hooked into a pair of large oaks.

He felt his whole body jerk from the impact, then send him zipping into the forest.

==== ==== ==== ====

He whipped past the majority of the trees, his fidgeting fingers curling into fists as a large clearing came into view.

A shadow stood on one of the branches, motionless.

His heart soared with excitement as he aimed for that exact same branch; zooming to it and eagerly letting his wires carry him.

He instead hit the branch rather oddly, with his stomach the area that made first contact with the wood. He scrambled impatiently up the limb and onto his feet quickly. He rushed onto the figure, wrapping his arms around it and holding it close to him. He inhaled the familiar scent of that wonderful golden hair, and ran his fingers through it and felt the tears in his eyes stain the cloth on his face –

There was cloth on his face.

Suddenly Eren pulled away, shocked by the horrified expression in those Atlantic eyes. He only now noticed that he was nailed to the tree, his mouth tied closed and arms behind his back.

Eren scrunched his brows only now to read the look that Armin was pleadingly giving him.

‘It was a trap.’ He silently screamed.

Eren tried desperately to wipe away the tears that were streaming down the blonde’s face, when suddenly –

Everything went black.

==== ==== ==== ====

When he awoke, he was next to a shaking frame.

He was bound, tied at the wrists and arms and legs and mouth. His captors had obviously taken a lot of precaution when dealing with his unconscious body. He immediately let a low growl escape his lips, shocking the male next to him.

Armin suddenly straightened his back, staring down at Eren with relieved eyes. He had blood on his forehead and red marks around his mouth from where the cloth was tied, and a small bandage disturbing the blonde hair at the base of his skull.

He brought himself closer, reaching down and grabbing one of Eren’s tied hands. He buried his head next to his, small sounds escaping his lips, which were just the effects of the sobbing that racked his frail body.

So much trauma in one day, Eren thought idly, he shouldn’t have to deal with this. He must be so tired and hurt and...

Eren suddenly relived the memories as if they had reached up from hell and personally invited him back with him. He fell into that boiling pit of confusion and chaos, and started to breathe rapidly and struggle against the other male.

“Squirming won’t help you now.”

The sudden deep voice shocked Eren into stationary silence. He craned his head to gaze angrily at the ex-member of his squad.

Reiner Braun. Second in the class.

His former friend, Armin’s former best friend.

Was now the enemy.

==== ==== ==== ====

Eren felt his heart sink as Armin dragged his hand away, only to clench it into a small fist.

He stood, which in turn, made Eren’s heart sink further. He yearned for his closeness as soon as that delirious scream erupted from him, the voice he didn’t know existed, the one that rose up and defended his blonde companion, or at least tried to find him. Tried to call him, to get him back.

Yet here his supposedly helpless friend was, narrowing blue eyes at the tall man crossing his arms.

Waves crashed in those eyes, rough, tumbling waves whose foam was the tears streaming down his pale cheeks. Those somehow contained, wild, angry oceans that glared defiantly despite his disposition.

“Talking won’t help you now,” Armin hissed back, his seething anger boiling just over the surface.

“And neither will it help you.” Reiner replied blandly, rolling his eyes. “Talk all you want, Arlert. It’s what you’re good at. But you know what? It won’t change anything now.”

“I could say the same for you, Reiner. Blather. Blather on to your village chiefs, blather on to me and Eren and Sasha and Ymir. Blather nonsense to your friends. How about blathering to the grave of Marcel? The one you let die?” Armin grit his teeth and whispered.

A sudden anger flashed in Reiner’s eyes. “We don’t need you alive,” He spat.

“You don’t need Sasha alive.” Armin coaxed. “But, oh, we’ve got to keep her, Reiner. Bertholdt loves her.”

“He does not!” Reiner protested, stomping onto the tree branch of which they were all resting.

“That’s enough talk for one day, don’t you think?” Armin smirked. “Get some rest before you hurt yourself, Braun.”

“Listen here, you little godamn kid!” Reiner suddenly took a step forward, grabbing Armin’s shirt and lifting him into the air by his collar. “You don’t talk about deep shit, unless you wanna end up in deep shit.”

“Don’t make mistakes, and you wouldn’t have to deal with me.” Armin rasped.

“I could kill you right now,” Reiner reminded him stiffly.

“But you won’t.”

Reiner laughed bitterly. “And what makes you think that?”

“Because without me, Eren won’t listen to you. Try using force. Everyone has. It never works, does it? You know it doesn’t. You kill me, and I fucking promise, he’ll kill you too.”

Armin was released from Reiner’s grasp, and left on his knees to regain his breath.

As Eren watched, Armin regained his poise and sighed, returning to his side. His eyes were significantly hollowed from the exchange.

Eren tried to comfort him with a muffled response, but earned nothing. Armin sat slightly farther away from him, hugging his knees and fighting down sobs. Eren wanted to touch those tear-stained cheeks, to bring his face closer and just lose himself in him. His desires were pushed and locked away as Armin buried his head and finally let loose the cries and gasps and tears.

He shook as he did so, whispering quietly.

“I’m sorry,” He murmured quietly. “I’m so sorry, Eren.”

==== ==== ==== ====

“We’ve got to move,” Reiner said, tying Armin’s small wrists behind his back. He let the rest of the rope dangle. Instead of leaving it like that, he handed the loose part of the bonds and let Bertholdt guide him.

Eren was loaded in a very uncomfortable carrier that Reiner wore.

After a bit of squirming and resistance, Ymir finally convinced Eren of the consequences that would apply if he did not cooperate.

Armin glanced down as she threatened his life.

Eren nodded, if not defiantly, and let himself be strapped the man’s back. As they began walking, Eren and Armin exchanged as much looks as they could without being noticed.

Expect Ymir noticed them.

“Aw,” She smirked and spoke sarcastically, “How cute.”

Armin fought the urge to confront her and kept his head bent down, eyes covered by his long hair. Eren growled.

“No, seriously,” Ymir pressed, drawing closer to Armin. “You two are absolutely adorable.”

“Stop,” He whispered, backing away. He bit his lower lip to stop from spewing nonsense. He knew he couldn’t get to Ymir, and he knew it would only result in disaster for him.

“No, no. I think you two should’ve gotten married. How nice would that have been? Oh, that’s right.” She suddenly paused, drawing closer, but before she could whisper the phrase-

“You’ll never marry Krista,” Armin blurted, recognizing her parallel with little difficulty.

Her eyes widened with shock, and before anyone could stop her; she flung her fist up into his face and sent him onto the ground with one blow.

Bertholdt’s grip on the rope went limp, and the entire group stopped, surprised.

With the frightened silence of the gathering as her background music, she leaned down and looked into the pale blue eyes of the small male, whose face was partly resting on the forest floor.

“He won’t live,” She hissed. “You’ll never see him again, and I can promise you that.”

Eren snarled, jerking his arms from their restraints. Ymir only chuckled at his attempt to freedom.

Armin lifted himself to his knees, glaring up at her.

“I can promise you,” He whispered, “That she’d never love a monster.”

He was sent to the ground again after she kicked his side, her eyes flashing but her face expressionless. He choked and sputtered as he slammed into the ground once more, causing Eren to thrash angrily.

“Would she,” He rasped, “Want you hurting someone who couldn’t defend themself?”

“You’re worthless, Arlert,” She retorted, parting her mouth only to spit on his face.

Before she could turn around and walk away, he began coughing and shivering. She arched a brow, as if the sight made her amused.

He struggled to his feet, his legs shaking as he clutched his stomach with bound hands. The tense silence was beginning to get on her nerves, but as she saw him take a step closer, she scoffed and took a step back.

“You’re a convict,” He said as he ripped at the restraints on his ropes and brought his weak arms in a trembling salute. “I’m a solider.”
Ymir scoffed, but watched as his little game carried on.

“And that’s more important than a killer, don’t you think?” He whispered, his hands still up in the formation.

“You’re nothing but a dreamer,” She hissed, and turned away as the group moved forward. Bertholdt retied his arms, but Armin insisted that they stay in their position.

So Bertholdt shrugged and tied the constraints around his whole torso, listening to Armin’s explanation.

“I wanna remind them who they were, Bertholdt,” He muttered. “Who they were fighting for.”

As the group pushed on, Bertholdt couldn’t help but think about what that wise young blonde had said.

==== ==== ==== ====

They finally stopped on the edge of the forest and settled in as the sky darkened. Perched in the trees, Armin was tasked with the duty of feeding Eren, and Bertholdt was assigned to watch them.

Relief was the silent bond that they shared with each hopeful glance, as Armin bent down and untied Eren’s gag. Marked from the cloth, his smile was red, but just as determined and handsome as Armin remembered. He leaned closer and untied the restraints on his wrist.

The first thing Eren did was grab him close and dig his hands into that hair, inhale the sunny scent of him and indulge in his warmth, and just – lose himself.

“Eren,” Armin warned as he tried to break the embrace, but the sound only reached deaf ears.

Eren clung to him desperately, longing for his presence. He hadn’t held him in so long - he hadn’t had time to finally break down and be grateful that Armin was okay. He just inhaled and exhaled deeply, not wanting to let go.

Armin broke away stiffly as a small comment from Ymir made him flush.

Eren remembered that look on his innocent face, the cream cheeks turning strawberry and, oh, Sina, he remembered how much that sight made his heart race. He just wanted everything to go away, and he didn’t care about Ymir, or Bertholdt, or Reiner or Annie or the hopeless situation they currently were trapped in.

The only thing he wanted to do was simple, so he considered his request doable.

Before Armin even had a chance to decline, Eren was already against his lips, eagerly pulling him closer and awaiting a response.

Armin’s shocked expression did not help his confidence.

As the blonde pulled away and whispered his apologies, Eren felt his heart wedge in his throat. What was wrong? Why wasn’t he kissing him back?

Thoughts raced by in his head so fast that he had a hard time noticing the bread that Armin was extending towards him.

“Eren, just eat, alright?”

Eren squinted his eyes in an attempt to see past that distant look in those clouded eyes. He pressed further, causing him to withdraw himself and pull away.

“Armin, please-,” Eren protested, but to no avail. He didn’t distract the young blonde from turning away.

Only when he stood up and grabbed his arm, did he stop.

“Eren-,” Armin suddenly seemed shocked. “Eren, that hurts.”

The brunette let go of him immediately, apologizing quietly. “Listen, Armin, I’m sorry, but I just missed you so much-,”

He sighed and recalled the nauseating concern that possessed him to fly past his other team members. Eren bared his teeth and growled when Armin denied another attempt at a kiss.

“Eren, just eat,” Armin backed away. “You’re scaring me.”

Eren felt a bit of heart chip away as he spoke.

“You’re acting like your titan,” Armin hissed.

“You said it’s important to throw away your humanity in times like this.”

“...Eren, you’re squeezing my arm too hard.”

His surprised green irises flickered to Armin’s wrist, which was now a bit purple by the force of Eren’s hand. He jerked his hand away and apologized again, only to gain a small shake of his head.

“I thought you’d have some left,” He said as he turned and left him to the bread, which now resided in crumbs under the pressure of his clenched fist.

Maybe it was the pure hunger in his eyes when he saw him again, or the violent snarls and growls that he used to warn Ymir about her confrontation earlier that convinced Armin he was dangerous.

Bertholdt sighed at Eren, shrugging. “He’ll come around,” He suggested. “They’ll get over the whole titan thing, trust me.”

A sudden female voice sounded from the trees, and a red-haired young woman poked her head from a thick patch of greens. “You gonna finish that?” She asked, pointing to his hand.

He scoffed and recoiled.

Sasha too?

==== ==== ==== ====

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

The pounding in Eren’s chest only made the matter more difficult, and harder to bear, but no, he wasn’t going to have to bear anything, because he was okay – and nothing was wrong, and he was alright – he wasn’t in trouble.

His heart raced in his ribs, which were now only a cage encasing his fury as that organ pumped acid into his veins, suddenly igniting his inner rage and worry and concern and sending him flying past the other members of the Recon Corps.

His palms were filled with perspiration as he snapped the release on the maneuvering gear, scrambling for the gas controls; he felt his shaking fingers hit the wrong switch. He had no time to be amazed as he suddenly flew faster, wires whirring as he struggled to keep them focused on the trees ahead.

He could barely get each breath in and out with his heaving chest, pushing down his anxiety in the pit of his stomach, but only to feel it rising up again with rage and hate and worry and concern and that terrible taste of vomit in the back of his throat.

The trembling limbs that he reluctantly owned were hurtling through the air unevenly, miles past the other members by now. He had no time to think about that. All of the sudden his friend’s fate dawned upon him in a flash –

He’s dead.

A shriek sounded from the patch of trees ahead, one so desperate and pained that it caused his head to snap in the direction, and his raging emerald eyes suddenly glistened with tears, prickling heat originating from where they streamed. He knew that voice. It was higher pitched, fearful, longing, -

Armin’s.

He swallowed and parted his cracked lips, only to tear a scream from his lungs and let the air take it away from him, ripping it out of his body like pulling out a tooth from one reluctant mouth.

“Armin!”

The tears clouded his vision, but he managed to make out a large cloud of steam rise up from the treetops.

He furrowed his brows as the wind ruffled his hair, zooming faster and faster until suddenly –

His gas ran out.

He shouted as he plummeted from the sky and onto the ground below, twisting and contorting his body in an effort to snap the wires into action and snag onto a tree in the distance.

He spiraled down, his fear manifesting in the pit of his stomach and his hope diminishing every time his attempt to hit the release failed.

He whimpered as he reached down and slapped the whole piece of metal, hopefully setting off the switch. When nothing happened, he squinted his eyes and tried desperately to locate the lever himself.

Finally, a pair of cables extracted themselves from the metal and shot off into the distance, and hooked into a pair of large oaks.

He felt his whole body jerk from the impact, then send him zipping into the forest.

==== ==== ==== ====

He whipped past the majority of the trees, his fidgeting fingers curling into fists as a large clearing came into view.

A shadow stood on one of the branches, motionless.

His heart soared with excitement as he aimed for that exact same branch; zooming to it and eagerly letting his wires carry him.

He instead hit the branch rather oddly, with his stomach the area that made first contact with the wood. He scrambled impatiently up the limb and onto his feet quickly. He rushed onto the figure, wrapping his arms around it and holding it close to him. He inhaled the familiar scent of that wonderful golden hair, and ran his fingers through it and felt the tears in his eyes stain the cloth on his face –

There was cloth on his face.

Suddenly Eren pulled away, shocked by the horrified expression in those Atlantic eyes. He only now noticed that he was nailed to the tree, his mouth tied closed and arms behind his back.

Eren scrunched his brows only now to read the look that Armin was pleadingly giving him.

‘It was a trap.’ He silently screamed.

Eren tried desperately to wipe away the tears that were streaming down the blonde’s face, when suddenly –

Everything went black.

==== ==== ==== ====

When he awoke, he was next to a shaking frame.

He was bound, tied at the wrists and arms and legs and mouth. His captors had obviously taken a lot of precaution when dealing with his unconscious body. He immediately let a low growl escape his lips, shocking the male next to him.

Armin suddenly straightened his back, staring down at Eren with relieved eyes. He had blood on his forehead and red marks around his mouth from where the cloth was tied, and a small bandage disturbing the blonde hair at the base of his skull.

He brought himself closer, reaching down and grabbing one of Eren’s tied hands. He buried his head next to his, small sounds escaping his lips, which were just the effects of the sobbing that racked his frail body.

So much trauma in one day, Eren thought idly, he shouldn’t have to deal with this. He must be so tired and hurt and...

Eren suddenly relived the memories as if they had reached up from hell and personally invited him back with him. He fell into that boiling pit of confusion and chaos, and started to breathe rapidly and struggle against the other male.

“Squirming won’t help you now.”

The sudden deep voice shocked Eren into stationary silence. He craned his head to gaze angrily at the ex-member of his squad.

Reiner Braun. Second in the class.

His former friend, Armin’s former best friend.

Was now the enemy.

==== ==== ==== ====

Eren felt his heart sink as Armin dragged his hand away, only to clench it into a small fist.

He stood, which in turn, made Eren’s heart sink further. He yearned for his closeness as soon as that delirious scream erupted from him, the voice he didn’t know existed, the one that rose up and defended his blonde companion, or at least tried to find him. Tried to call him, to get him back.

Yet here his supposedly helpless friend was, narrowing blue eyes at the tall man crossing his arms.

Waves crashed in those eyes, rough, tumbling waves whose foam was the tears streaming down his pale cheeks. Those somehow contained, wild, angry oceans that glared defiantly despite his disposition.

“Talking won’t help you now,” Armin hissed back, his seething anger boiling just over the surface.

“And neither will it help you.” Reiner replied blandly, rolling his eyes. “Talk all you want, Arlert. It’s what you’re good at. But you know what? It won’t change anything now.”

“I could say the same for you, Reiner. Blather. Blather on to your village chiefs, blather on to me and Eren and Sasha and Ymir. Blather nonsense to your friends. How about blathering to the grave of Marcel? The one you let die?” Armin grit his teeth and whispered.

A sudden anger flashed in Reiner’s eyes. “We don’t need you alive,” He spat.

“You don’t need Sasha alive.” Armin coaxed. “But, oh, we’ve got to keep her, Reiner. Bertholdt loves her.”

“He does not!” Reiner protested, stomping onto the tree branch of which they were all resting.

“That’s enough talk for one day, don’t you think?” Armin smirked. “Get some rest before you hurt yourself, Braun.”

“Listen here, you little godamn kid!” Reiner suddenly took a step forward, grabbing Armin’s shirt and lifting him into the air by his collar. “You don’t talk about deep shit, unless you wanna end up in deep shit.”

“Don’t make mistakes, and you wouldn’t have to deal with me.” Armin rasped.

“I could kill you right now,” Reiner reminded him stiffly.

“But you won’t.”

Reiner laughed bitterly. “And what makes you think that?”

“Because without me, Eren won’t listen to you. Try using force. Everyone has. It never works, does it? You know it doesn’t. You kill me, and I fucking promise, he’ll kill you too.”

Armin was released from Reiner’s grasp, and left on his knees to regain his breath.

As Eren watched, Armin regained his poise and sighed, returning to his side. His eyes were significantly hollowed from the exchange.

Eren tried to comfort him with a muffled response, but earned nothing. Armin sat slightly farther away from him, hugging his knees and fighting down sobs. Eren wanted to touch those tear-stained cheeks, to bring his face closer and just lose himself in him. His desires were pushed and locked away as Armin buried his head and finally let loose the cries and gasps and tears.

He shook as he did so, whispering quietly.

“I’m sorry,” He murmured quietly. “I’m so sorry, Eren.”

==== ==== ==== ====

“We’ve got to move,” Reiner said, tying Armin’s small wrists behind his back. He let the rest of the rope dangle. Instead of leaving it like that, he handed the loose part of the bonds and let Bertholdt guide him.

Eren was loaded in a very uncomfortable carrier that Reiner wore.

After a bit of squirming and resistance, Ymir finally convinced Eren of the consequences that would apply if he did not cooperate.

Armin glanced down as she threatened his life.

Eren nodded, if not defiantly, and let himself be strapped the man’s back. As they began walking, Eren and Armin exchanged as much looks as they could without being noticed.

Expect Ymir noticed them.

“Aw,” She smirked and spoke sarcastically, “How cute.”

Armin fought the urge to confront her and kept his head bent down, eyes covered by his long hair. Eren growled.

“No, seriously,” Ymir pressed, drawing closer to Armin. “You two are absolutely adorable.”

“Stop,” He whispered, backing away. He bit his lower lip to stop from spewing nonsense. He knew he couldn’t get to Ymir, and he knew it would only result in disaster for him.

“No, no. I think you two should’ve gotten married. How nice would that have been? Oh, that’s right.” She suddenly paused, drawing closer, but before she could whisper the phrase-

“You’ll never marry Krista,” Armin blurted, recognizing her parallel with little difficulty.

Her eyes widened with shock, and before anyone could stop her; she flung her fist up into his face and sent him onto the ground with one blow.

Bertholdt’s grip on the rope went limp, and the entire group stopped, surprised.

With the frightened silence of the gathering as her background music, she leaned down and looked into the pale blue eyes of the small male, whose face was partly resting on the forest floor.

“He won’t live,” She hissed. “You’ll never see him again, and I can promise you that.”

Eren snarled, jerking his arms from their restraints. Ymir only chuckled at his attempt to freedom.

Armin lifted himself to his knees, glaring up at her.

“I can promise you,” He whispered, “That she’d never love a monster.”

He was sent to the ground again after she kicked his side, her eyes flashing but her face expressionless. He choked and sputtered as he slammed into the ground once more, causing Eren to thrash angrily.

“Would she,” He rasped, “Want you hurting someone who couldn’t defend themself?”

“You’re worthless, Arlert,” She retorted, parting her mouth only to spit on his face.

Before she could turn around and walk away, he began coughing and shivering. She arched a brow, as if the sight made her amused.

He struggled to his feet, his legs shaking as he clutched his stomach with bound hands. The tense silence was beginning to get on her nerves, but as she saw him take a step closer, she scoffed and took a step back.

“You’re a convict,” He said as he ripped at the restraints on his ropes and brought his weak arms in a trembling salute. “I’m a solider.”
Ymir scoffed, but watched as his little game carried on.

“And that’s more important than a killer, don’t you think?” He whispered, his hands still up in the formation.

“You’re nothing but a dreamer,” She hissed, and turned away as the group moved forward. Bertholdt retied his arms, but Armin insisted that they stay in their position.

So Bertholdt shrugged and tied the constraints around his whole torso, listening to Armin’s explanation.

“I wanna remind them who they were, Bertholdt,” He muttered. “Who they were fighting for.”

As the group pushed on, Bertholdt couldn’t help but think about what that wise young blonde had said.

==== ==== ==== ====

They finally stopped on the edge of the forest and settled in as the sky darkened. Perched in the trees, Armin was tasked with the duty of feeding Eren, and Bertholdt was assigned to watch them.

Relief was the silent bond that they shared with each hopeful glance, as Armin bent down and untied Eren’s gag. Marked from the cloth, his smile was red, but just as determined and handsome as Armin remembered. He leaned closer and untied the restraints on his wrist.

The first thing Eren did was grab him close and dig his hands into that hair, inhale the sunny scent of him and indulge in his warmth, and just – lose himself.

“Eren,” Armin warned as he tried to break the embrace, but the sound only reached deaf ears.

Eren clung to him desperately, longing for his presence. He hadn’t held him in so long - he hadn’t had time to finally break down and be grateful that Armin was okay. He just inhaled and exhaled deeply, not wanting to let go.

Armin broke away stiffly as a small comment from Ymir made him flush.

Eren remembered that look on his innocent face, the cream cheeks turning strawberry and, oh, Sina, he remembered how much that sight made his heart race. He just wanted everything to go away, and he didn’t care about Ymir, or Bertholdt, or Reiner or Annie or the hopeless situation they currently were trapped in.

The only thing he wanted to do was simple, so he considered his request doable.

Before Armin even had a chance to decline, Eren was already against his lips, eagerly pulling him closer and awaiting a response.

Armin’s shocked expression did not help his confidence.

As the blonde pulled away and whispered his apologies, Eren felt his heart wedge in his throat. What was wrong? Why wasn’t he kissing him back?

Thoughts raced by in his head so fast that he had a hard time noticing the bread that Armin was extending towards him.

“Eren, just eat, alright?”

Eren squinted his eyes in an attempt to see past that distant look in those clouded eyes. He pressed further, causing him to withdraw himself and pull away.

“Armin, please-,” Eren protested, but to no avail. He didn’t distract the young blonde from turning away.

Only when he stood up and grabbed his arm, did he stop.

“Eren-,” Armin suddenly seemed shocked. “Eren, that hurts.”

The brunette let go of him immediately, apologizing quietly. “Listen, Armin, I’m sorry, but I just missed you so much-,”

He sighed and recalled the nauseating concern that possessed him to fly past his other team members. Eren bared his teeth and growled when Armin denied another attempt at a kiss.

“Eren, just eat,” Armin backed away. “You’re scaring me.”

Eren felt a bit of heart chip away as he spoke.

“You’re acting like your titan,” Armin hissed.

“You said it’s important to throw away your humanity in times like this.”

“...Eren, you’re squeezing my arm too hard.”

His surprised green irises flickered to Armin’s wrist, which was now a bit purple by the force of Eren’s hand. He jerked his hand away and apologized again, only to gain a small shake of his head.

“I thought you’d have some left,” He said as he turned and left him to the bread, which now resided in crumbs under the pressure of his clenched fist.

Maybe it was the pure hunger in his eyes when he saw him again, or the violent snarls and growls that he used to warn Ymir about her confrontation earlier that convinced Armin he was dangerous.

Bertholdt sighed at Eren, shrugging. “He’ll come around,” He suggested. “They’ll get over the whole titan thing, trust me.”

A sudden female voice sounded from the trees, and a red-haired young woman poked her head from a thick patch of greens. “You gonna finish that?” She asked, pointing to his hand.

He scoffed and recoiled.

Sasha too?

==== ==== ==== ====