empty spaces ~ armin x reader

chapter four // the gamble

"Are you okay?" he asked, watching me struggle for breath with my face squashed against the hard floor.

"Augh," I winced. "Yeah, I'm fine."

He gave me his hand and I took it. He pulled me off the ground. I brushed dirt and glass shards off my legs and stomach.

"Shit, you're bleeding," he cursed, checking out my face for injuries.

I touched my face lightly, trailing my forehead. I pulled my fingers back and they were stained red. There was a dull pounding in my forehead that I cast aside.

"We need to keep going," I said, making my way back to the place I entered.

Jean turned to me, his hair catching wind and debris. He had a scruff on his chin from the facial hair he was attempting to grow. His brown eyes met mine. One look at him and I knew he wasn't just fighting for revenge.

"See you in the aircraft, buddy." He propelled out of the building.

I positioned my ODM gear and did the same. I mapped out safer buildings, moving as far away from the demolished path of the Jaw Titan and the fire of the Cart Titan. Moving seamlessly through the air, I made it to a safe rooftop, and I used my pistol to shoot down more enemies.

A slicing sound pierced the atmosphere and Eren's titan once again found himself skewered on a stake. A surprised shriek shook the ground. He wasted no time trying to remove the enemy and bit into the shell of the titan shifter. The results carried blood and broken teeth, but no shattered crystal. Eren reemerged from the titan and jumped off the stake, biting his hand to transform in the process.

I felt myself sway off balance. My initial thought was that my injuries had caused me to become unsteady, but then I saw the chest of the Beast Titan as it strolled past me. It was less than a block away. I made my way to the platform where most of Levi's squad was located. I settled next to Sasha as Captain Levi stood in front, staring straight on at the Beast Titan.

Levi moved forward without the slightest hesitation. He slashed the Beast Titan's ankles, bringing it crashing down. He used a grenade he had been storing to finish the titan off. Such an efficient ending to Levi's pest.

I broke free from the position, and I ran across a tiled roof to a cleared road full of Commanding Officers organizing soldiers. I raised my gun, aiming precisely for the Commander's skull when shots rang behind me. The Cart Titan was another piece in this little game that needed to be dealt with. I abandoned the Commander and directed my sights on the Cart Titan, avoiding the bullets. I made my way next to Sasha as she positioned the rifle for the person manning the machine gun atop the Cart Titan. It took her one shot to remove the threat.

The Cart Titan roared in fury and charged at her. I raised my thunder spear as Jean and a few others swooped in and did the same. I threw the spear with all the arm strength I could've mustered and retreated back as the Cart Titan blew up. I had to keep swiping the dripping blood from my eyes to see what was happening. The back of my hand was covered in fresh blood, which I continuously wiped on my pants.

A crack louder than any other titan transformation caught my attention. I shifted my attention to the flaming harbor. The transformation was echoed by the resounding noise of ships being tossed into the air and blown apart. I covered my eyes from the searing light.

My heart thumped against my chest a little harder.

Everyone, even the Survey Corps who had already seen Armin shift, gawked at it.

I shook my head as the Jaw Titan charged passed me with no regard. It went directly for Eren, baring its teeth like a rabid dog. Mikasa made her way in front of Eren and sliced right through both of the Jaw Titan's calves, launching them in different directions. The Jaw Titan fell again to which Eren responded by picking it up. He forced the crystal into the mouth of the titan. Using both his hands, Eren pressed its jaw together. The crystal crackled and eventually shattered. Eren's titan opened its throat and swallowed the blood and guts of the War Hammer Titan shifter.

I went back to the Commander I was tracking down when Eren reversed on the Jaw Titan by smashing it into the ground. Fists met with the Jaw Titan's form again, and again, and again...

My eyes landed on the Commander when I heard what sounded like children shrieking.

"REINER!"

I whipped around.

CRACK.

The Armored Titan emerged as the Jaw Titan was about to be devoured. Eren dropped the Jaw Titan and faced the Armored Titan. The tension between them lasted for about a minute before Eren kicked his leg forward and charged at the titan. The Armored Titan responded by going after Eren. Eren dodged his punch and landed a crackling one to the jaw, sending the Armored Titan tumbling down.

The scene was drawing and emotional, anyone could see that this fight was tied to events from the past. The grudges and guilt neither of them ever let go of.

The final titan enemy down prompted Eren to reemerge. Mikasa greeted him. I turned around and raised my gun at my final objective. My finger did not linger on the trigger as I knew even a second could be enough time to escape. The Commander toppled to the ground in a magnificent spray of gore.

I did it.

I followed behind Mikasa and Eren as the airship made its way overhead, following the trail of lights we had set out. My gear latched onto a low-hanging bar of the airship. I grabbed onto the bar and hung on while the door swung open.

Armin kneeled there, reaching out with his hand.