Attack on One-Shots

The Point of No Return (Part 2) - Apocalypse!AU - Armin x Reader

"If not, then longer," Armin replied, smiling warmly at her as she picked up her plastic fork and slowly started eating. She suppressed a delighted moan as the deliciousness sent a shudder down her spine. She hadn't eaten something so good in so long.

"You could have woken me up to help with something," she told them through a mouthful of food. "I wouldn't have minded."

"Yeah but we would have. (F/N), you desperately needed the sleep. You were almost dead on your feet when you were brought down here. The bags under your eyes are gone and you even sound stronger," Armin argued. "Honestly, it's fine that you slept. We all just want you to get stronger and better like before you left."

"I understand," she muttered, eating her food more slowly in a sad attempt to savor it.

"So why did you leave in the first place?" Reiner asked; his interest almost sounded genuine. Almost.

"Oh, like you actually care," She wanted to say. Instead, she smiled at him and shrugged. "I had to make sure of something. I needed to do it alone, and after that, I just kept going by myself. I don't really know why I stayed away for so long. Six months does seem kind of extensive when you really think about it, but at the time I didn't really notice that much time was passing. That, and I just couldn't find you guys. I think I was lost most of the time, but managed to stay in the area at the same time if that even makes sense."

Reiner nodded thoughtfully, rubbing at his chin as though there was hair there. "I see. Well, we all need the occasional time away. At least you survived by yourself. I don't think I could do that. I would lose my mind."

"Yeah it get's pretty rough, what with stiffs, no GPS, no street lights, thieves that beat you," she replied, emphasizing a few choice words.

Unlike last night, a corner of Reiner's mouth quirked up in a half smirk. "Yeah, I can see that someone got you pretty good."

Anger shot through her at his comment, but she couldn't allow herself to get too worked up around Eren and the others. "Yeah. It wasn't fun. Hurt pretty badly too. I hope that the culprit gets what's coming to him. He deserves the karma." She hoped she made him paranoid.

It seemed to work too, because after she finally convinced Eren that she was okay to help out around and was assigned to perimeter checks with Marco, she didn't miss the wary looks Reiner cast her as she went up the ladder with a rifle slung over her shoulder. 

She also didn't miss the way he purposely moved out of her way whenever she was near him, almost like he was afraid she was just going to randomly swing at her.

Bertholdt was different. He'd offer her small, peaceful smiles and even help her out with things; like when she couldn't reach the top shelf or Marco was doing something else and she needed a perimeter check buddy.

It was the second time that Bertholdt volunteered to go with her while Marco helped take inventory on their ammunition that she spoke up.

"Lovely to see you again," she said as they circled the outer trees first. He didn't miss the slight sarcasm in her voice as they walked.

"I'm so sorry," he mumbled. "for the trouble we caused you. I'm sorry I let him get out of control like that too. You didn't do anything to deserve it."

"You stopped him didn't you? I don't resent you, Bertholdt. Sure, you did help to steal from me, but you stopped him from beating me to death and you left with me with plenty of supplies to make it for a while," she answered, smiling up at him.

"I didn't want to steal from you," he told her, his voice soft.

"And I believe you and forgive you. Like I said, I don't resent you. I just resent Reiner and can't wait for every opportunity to make him uncomfortable."

Bertholdt allowed himself to chuckle as they completed a circle around the outer trees and moved deeper in the woods for a bigger perimeter check.

"So you've known Eren for a while?" He attempted at small talk, eyes never drifting from the path nor their surroundings.

A lazy smile appeared on (F/N)'s face. "Since we were six, yeah. He's like a brother to me; scratch that, he is my brother. I don't know what I'd do without him or Mikasa."

"And what about Armin? I assume you two are very close as well?"

Her smile widened. "Yeah. I love him more than anything."

"So you're together?"

A strangled laugh escaped her lips. "No, actually. Not technically; but I love him and he knows that, and he loves me and I know that. We've just never really acted on our feelings, unfortunately."

Bertholdt nodded. "At least he loves you back."

"You got someone you love?"

"I used to. Her name was Annie. I really loved her. Like, really loved. I don't know how she felt towards me though, and I wish I had said something," Bertholdt's voice had softened again, taking on a more sad tone as he spoke about this girl.

"What happened to her?"

"The same thing that happens to everyone."

"I'm sorry," (F/N) expressed, her heart going out to him. She had learned by now that Bertholdt was honestly just a tall, lovable giant. A gentle giant, if you will. A gentle, nervous giant.

Their conversation fell after that, both just wanting to wrap up their perimeter check and go back to the cabin.

But of course, nothing was that easy anymore.

~

Whoops, part two went up pretty quick.

Part three probably won't be up tonight, so keep an eye out for it tomorrow.