empty spaces ~ armin x reader

chapter four // the gamble

The screaming I was trying to block out was overshadowed by another crack. I ducked my head to avoid burning my eyes from the bright titan transformation. This new titan was constructed of hardened flesh. Eren's titan spurred and threw all its weight on the transforming titan. The titan crashed directly onto the mostly demolished stage structure. Eren lifted his arm back to beat the titan to a pulp. His fists were as solid as steel, stronger even. It sounded like someone was hammering on metal.

I flew over a busy street of escaping civilians as an enormous pole formed and skewered the torso of Eren's titan. I gawked in disbelief, wondering if Eren had underestimated the War Hammer Titan's power. Eren's limbs dangled idly as another resounding pop exploded and a hammer appeared in the hands of the War Hammer Titan. Eren's hands immediately clasped over the nape of his neck. The hammer swung back through the air, faster than anyone would have reacted, and blew directly into Eren.

"Shit," I breathed, engrossed in the action.

Liberio carried the scene of unbridled hell. I knew the closer I got, the more blood would've obstructed my senses. Blood in my mouth. Blood in my nose. Blood in my ears, dripping down my sides. People die, it was a daily occurrence.

The memory from my past caused me to shiver.

Eren was propelled backward with the stake penetrating his torso. I took off again and swept through the street, led by Jean and Sasha. Mikasa had progressed far more across the landscape than the rest of us. I readied my grenades, knowing reinforcements would be showing up within the next few minutes. Carts were pushing forward against the marked streets. They carried soldiers and supplies.

Eren was alone, which made our surprise tactic so brilliant. He just had to survive long enough for us to reach him.

The hammer swung once again and Eren had the sense to harden his forearms to block the attack. It was futile though because seconds later his titan's arms were blown off. Eren's titan keeled over, no longer moving. Steam floated into the air as Eren reemerged. The War Hammer raised their hammer threateningly.

"Any last words, Eren Yeager?" the deep voice of the War Hammer Titan questioned.

We were just around the corner, close enough to hear Eren's reply.

"Now or never, Mikasa."

Mikasa appeared on the scene in a blink, carrying the weight of a dozen thunder spears. She gracefully maneuvered around the War Hammer Titan, releasing an armful of thunder spears directly on the back of the neck. She flipped effortlessly through the air as the explosion drove her backward.

I landed behind the unsuspecting Marleyean Military. I lifted my pistols and released fire as flames exploded around me. The gun resources they were using to shoot Eren's titan form from a distance were blown apart by the grenades strapped to my gear. Connie jumped off the raised platform and released grenades on the resource carts approaching. Smoke clouded my background. Soldiers shouted as I swiftly swooped down and shot them in the back of the head with precision. If we had extra time, Connie and I would've taken a second to high five, but I barely had time to nod at him.

I was maneuvering in the air when I didn't even have time to react. A Marleyean soldier was directly below me, holding a gun to my back with their finger on the trigger. I gasped, knowing I wouldn't be able to move out of the way fast enough to avoid the impact. I took in my last breath as a gun went off and the soldier toppled over with blood dripping down the open wound in their forehead. I glanced up and saw Sasha holding a rifle a few buildings away. Her finger was still pressed on the trigger.

The titan conflict in the background halted briefly as both titans were immobilized. Eren was no longer controlling the Attack Titan, and the War Hammer was laying in a heap over the rubble. Mikasa and Eren were finally reunited, but I doubted this was close to what either of them had wished for.