Indefinitely - Armin X Reader

Chapter 32 | Multiple Flares

"It'll be okay." I reassured, leaning down to press my head against his. He lifted his hands absent-mindedly to touch my fingers.

"The choice isn't gonna be any easier with you thinking clearly." Reiner said in a grim tone, and I looked up at him. "Two of us are gonna have to stay here." He muttered. "We need to figure out who."

I hummed softly, feeling sadness build within me. I'd miss the boys after they left. As I worked it out, I figured that I'd most likely be left here with Reiner. 

"Wait a second!" Armin exclaimed hurriedly, leaping up, and I slowly rose after him. "I mean, shouldn't we fire off a smoke signal first? If everyone has kept proceeding as planned, Row 4 Squad 3 should be close to us now.  

Wordlessly, Jean fired a purple flare into the sky. "Well, that's the emergency signal, but I doubt anyone's gonna see it and go 'hey, somebody must need three other horses'."

"You're so positive." I sighed, sinking to my knees. I was so tired; today felt like it was going on forever. 

"Listen." Jean muttered shortly. "We're only gonna wait three minutes, and if no one comes, we're going to have to decide who stays."

"I'll stay." I replied immediately. Armin choked back a horrified gasp and looked at me. 

"No!" He cried. "We can't afford to lose you. It should be me who stays."

"Armin, you have to go." I urged. "They need your strategy. It's because of you that we took back Trost. They're going to need you if the Scouts have any hope of taking back Shinganshina."

Regardless of my insisting, Armin continued on. "You aren't staying. I'm staying, and if I'm going to be left here, I need you to relay a message, and if possible, give it only to commander Erwin." As he spoke, he lowered his voice. I thought distantly why he wouldn't tell all of us as it would have a better chance at getting to the commander.

He was interrupted by Jean's sudden laugh. "Armin, it looks like you'll be able to tell him yourself."

We all turned in surprise to look where he was pointing and saw someone with a flailing green cape riding towards us with horses in tow.

"Someone answered the call? Hell yes!" I cried, jumping to my feet, only to wince as my a stab of pain struck my side. "They've got three horses with them! How the fuck do they have that many?" I continued on, trying not to let on how much pain I was in. 

"Woah!" Reiner breathed. "That's.....It's Christa!"

"Damn, Reiner." I joked. "The bitch titan is gonna be jealous."

Reiner gave a groan and made a move to hit me but I dodged with a giggle.

"Hey guys! You alright?" She called, her high voice ringing with concern.

Christa pulled up beside us, letting go of her reins, and I realized with a squeal that she was holding the reins of my own horse. 

"Oh my god!" I laughed. "You're okay!" I patted her neck and hugged her closely. "Thank you so much, Christa!"

"Well damn!" Jean chuckled, reaching to give a few friendly slaps on the belly of his own horse. "There's my little run away! Easy Bushwall, it's okay. I forgive you."

"Poor things, they ran to me like the devil were on their tails! Did you guys fight a titan? Oh no! Armin, your head! You've been hurt! And Y/n! You've been hurt as well!