empty spaces ~ armin x reader

chapter one // not alone

I peered up at that exact moment to notice Armin staring at me. I doubt he realized he was doing it, but his eyes looked like I was a magnet he couldn't pull away from. I dismissed it because I didn't want to appear like I was staring at him back. The thought stuck with me like a little hook attached to the back of my mind, what if he was staring at you, not just staring into space in your direction?

I couldn't help myself from looking up a second time, but this time his eyes had moved on to Mikasa.

"How much time do we have before the blimp departures?" Armin asked Mikasa.

Mikasa lifted her eyes from her scarf, "Around three hours before we leave."

At that moment Levi stood up. "You brats all here?" Levi addressed everyone. "Go get ready so we can save that bastard's ass."

Everyone around me moved in hasty movements to clean up and exit the mess hall. I pick up my coffee and drained the rest of it, scalding my throat in the process. The cup thumped back on the table as I slid out of the bench. Sasha was shoving forkfuls of food in her mouth, chewing at an inhuman pace.

I walked outside as the sunrise began to peak on the horizon. I decided at that moment to take a quick stroll before heading to the base to collect my ODM gear. I ducked behind the side of the mess hall to avoid the attention of Levi, who would not hesitate to call out my brief escape. If he'd been willing to set me face to face with a seven-meter titan after a disagreement over tea and coffee, this time he'd probably kick me out of the blimp without gear.

Cliffs lined the edge of the ocean. The cliffs where we were camping met at the beach at the bottom. I ran downhill to the beach as the wind caught in my hair, throwing it up into my eyes. Sweat beaded along my temples as the day's heat came to greet us. I could feel the salt stick to my skin, but none of it mattered to me. I was happy to be back with my family. It was almost complete, we just needed to capture that rogue asshole first.

I made my way to the beach and took a big breath to settle my heart rate. My body was still groaning from the training, but it was a dull ache I easily dismissed.

I wasn't alone on the beach.

I acknowledged the person in front of me, feeling nostalgia as I recalled the boy with the blonde bangs that had stood in the same spot. The changes we've endured within us over time stretched farther than haircuts though.

There'd once been a time where the world we'd been introduced to seemed uncomplicated and pure compared to our past. Four years ago after we'd finally found this body of saltwater. I'd run down the burning sand and jumped in the water with Armin and Eren at my heels. Armin collected as many shells as he could find and had me carry all of them for him. We'd used the sand to make a mold around Connie's legs in the shape of a fishtail. It was a time before assemblies with our allies. I didn't need to slaughter any titans either. Nothing complicated that moment.

The moment on the beach with this new Armin was the exact opposite of that. There were complicating factors even we hadn't recognized yet.

"Armin," I whispered. I didn't think he'd heard me because the waves were crashing noisily in the distance and I didn't want to raise my voice too loud to startle him.

He turned to me. His face was blank of any emotions I could read. I truly had no idea what he was feeling. His best friend had abandoned him and suddenly reappeared to tell him that he needed him to risk his life again on his behalf.

I stepped closer to him. The fabric on my shoulder brushed his arm. I decided I wouldn't look at him because I didn't want to make him uncomfortable. I stared at the waves and didn't say a word.

Armin sighed. "I have to transform into the colossal titan again."

This time I did look at him.

"That's great!" I exclaimed, wiping the sweat from my temples. "Time to turn their own weapon on them."

He frowned and didn't say anything. My smile slowly faded. Did he not want to get revenge on them for what they did to us?

Marley had been oppressing us for ages. They locked us behind walls and used our own kind to demolish us. I didn't understand the guilt behind reclaiming our rights and standing in the world.

Maybe it was Eren that was bothering him.

"We'll bring him back."

Armin stiffened and I moved closer to him. I let my hand drop to my side and swing a little bit before catching his wrist. My fingers ran over the veins in his wrist as he slowly lifted his hand up to grab the fingers wrapped around his wrist. We both stared at our hands as he lifted his hand more so my fingers were trailing his palm. When my fingers finally met his, he immediately interlocked them tightly.

We were all going to come back alive with Eren. It was going to be okay.