a/n: at some point, we kinda bounce between (Y/n) and Armin's POV, so sorry if anyone gets confused lol.
"I never imagined Eren would try to slaughter all of humanity outside the walls." Jean sighed.
You all were standing on a roof, right in the heart of the wreckage of Shiganshina. Dozens of Wall Titans still marched in the areas where the walls used to stand, rumbling the ground with their every stomp. Connie and Jean found your group a little after Eren's Founding Titan stomped away, and they had brought someone along with them.
You had to keep yourself from breaking down into a fit of sobs the moment you laid eyes on Falco. He was human again, but his presence reminded you of the circumstances it took for Falco to find his humanity. The ones who gave their life for his.
Porco and Colt were both gone. You were so busy fighting that you hadn't even realized Colt passed around the same time as Porco, caught up in the blast of Falco's transformation. Hearing the aftermath of Colt's scorched body was mind numbing, you couldn't bear for Connie and Jean to finish telling you about their findings.
You were still in shock. The whole ordeal was unbelievable and you had a hard time wrapping your head around the fact that the closest friend you've ever had, one you've even considered a brother and trusted with everything, was gone just like that.
But at least you still had Falco. You knew that Colt wouldn't have regretted a second if he knew that Falco survived. You were almost too afraid to touch him as he laid in Jean's arms, the faded marks of the Jaw Titan lingering on his face. He still hadn't woken up, but the faint rise and fall of his chest told you he was okay.
"But then again, if everyone outside the walls disappears, the hate will too." Jean said aloud, continuing his earlier thought, "They did this to themselves. They decided we were devils and tried to kill us. There was nothing else we could've done.. right?" Jean searched his friends' eyes, yearning for someone to say something.
There was a long, unsettling beat of silence between you. It seemed that nobody was agreeing nor disagreeing with Jean. Nobody was revealing their opinions. That is, until you felt Armin uncomfortably shift on his feet beside you. As you expected.
"But this is going too far." Armin's voice shook as his wide eyes darted around at the Wall Titans still marching from deeper within Paradis. "This'll be a massacre on a scale never seen before. So many people will die. Innocent people."
"So do we stop him?" Jean asked, though you figured he wasn't expecting a real answer.
"It's not like he's just doing this for the hell of it. He's doing it for us. His friends." Jean debated. It almost sounded like he was trying to convince himself, "He could've went through with Zeke's plan, or sacrificed Historia for the Founding's power, but he didn't. He's doing all of this for us."
But does that make it any better?
You understood Eren's motives, and you empathized with him and everyone else in Paradis. This situation was clearly a case of someone being backed into a corner, and being forced to attack. And that, Eren did. But you also sympathized with all the Eldians out there who were just like you, who didn't see Paradis as an enemy or as devils, who were simply putting on a mask of hate to survive. And then there was all the children who were going to die too, for hate they weren't even apart of.
In a way, you couldn't help but feel like this was your fault. You were the one to get Eren to Paths by touching him. You were beating up your old comrades to help Eren, all for him to do a switch-up on both you and Zeke. He didn't agree with neither of your plans. It didn't matter who got Eren to Paths, you were both just going to be used for his own selfish plan.
And Zeke didn't have as much control over the situation as he thought he did either. Literally as soon as you were kicked out, Eren took on the form of the Founding Titan and delivered his message. So maybe your royal blood really was useless in regards to him.
For a moment, you thought to yourself, Was Reiner and the others right? Should we have just killed Eren to keep him away from Paths?
Was I fighting on the wrong side?
You were at a crossroad yet again.
The abrupt sound of a boom, a lot closer than the sounds the Wall Titans were making, suddenly sounded out to your ears. All of you tensed up, eyes wildly searching your surroundings to catch the source of the harsh noises.
"What was that?!" Connie exclaimed.
"Titans!" Jean answered with panicked eyes, pointing out in another direction.
A horde of Pure Titans were in the distance, slamming their fat fists down into the roofs of homes in an effort to catch the remaining soldiers still flying around by their gear. It seemed they finally ran out of Marleyan dining and was moving on to a different cuisine; the Scouts.
"But why? If Eren has the Founding, couldn't he just stop them from eating people?" Armin wondered aloud.
"I don't know if he can, but it's obvious he didn't do that, so we need to go!" Jean frantically advised, holding Falco to his chest in a better grip as he got ready to leap from the roof.
"Wait," You stopped him, "I'll take Falco. He's better off with me in my Titan." You suggested, holding out your arms for the boy. You felt personally responsible for him, considering you're the only real guardian he has with him at the moment.
"It's fine. I can hold him." Jean rushed out, brown eyes darting from you to Connie, and back.
Your brows creased at this notion, but Mikasa beat you to the punch with her own question.
"Jean, what are you going to do with that child?" She asked, not in an accusatory tone, but genuinely curious as to why he wouldn't give Falco up.
"Well, this boy inherited the Jaw Titan.. So, I was thinking..." Jean paused with a parted mouth, like there were words on the tip of his tongue that he was too afraid to speak. He eyed you for a little before heaving a sigh as he turned back to Mikasa, "I was thinking that we could feed him to someone who's become a Titan.. We could use this boy to save someone. Like Commander Pyxis."
"No." Connie cut in suddenly with downcast eyes, "We could.. We could use him to save my mom."
You couldn't believe the words that just fell out of their mouths. You stared at both of them with wide eyes of disbelief, jaw slack in shock. Even Armin and Mikasa seemed a little taken aback.
You curled up your lip in disgust, "Are you out of your minds?"
"I know that you're close to him, (Y/n), but I just think it's better if we give this Titan to someone more capable. Like someone who could help us." Jean rushed to say, trying to explain himself.
"Like who? Connie's mom? The hell is she going to do with the Jaw Titan?" You snapped, stalking closer to Jean who actively stepped away, sputtering to calm you down.
Connie's eye twitched, "Keep my mom out of your mouth."
"As long as she keeps Falco out of hers." You shot back.
Connie's face was livid as he stepped forward but Mikasa quickly put an arm in front of him.
"You're not even thinking about saving someone who's valuable to all of you. You're both just being selfish!" You shouted.
"Youre just as selfish as us, (Y/n)! What's this boy going to do with a power like the Jaw Titan?" Jean finally shot back.
"'That boy,'" You mocked Jean, "has had more training at 8 years old than any of you did at age 15. Falco's more than capable of the Jaw Titan. And even if he wasn't, he's only a kid! He's 12!"
Jean shook his head in conflict, "I just think—"
"I dont give a fuck what you think." You cut him off, "Falco's life isn't up for debate on who's going to take it. So hand him over." You took another step towards Jean, just for him to take another step back. "Jean, give me Falco."
Jean didn't budge, if anything, it seemed he held Falco tighter.
The tension was as thick as a slab of butter on that roof. All the while, the Pure Titans were only getting closer. You could hear the bangs and booms of their wreckage. The shouts of the soldiers who weren't lucky enough to dodge their hits. You could even feel the tremors of their stomps, and still, neither of you moved.
"Connie, Jean. That kid is a Warrior candidate, a junior to the Warrior Unit that has Reiner, (Y/n) and others." Armin spoke tentatively, not wanting to trigger anymore outbursts. "I'm afraid that if either of you were to kill or harm him, it's going to start a whole new fight." Armin took a glance at the boy in Jean's arms before adding, "And he's only a kid. We shouldn't—"
"So you're agreeing with her, Armin?" Connie seethed, murder flashing in his golden eyes. If looks could kill, Armin would've dropped dead. Twice. "So you're saying my mom doesn't matter?"
Armin frowned up in confsuion, beads of sweat already dancing on his forehead, "That's not what I meant—!"
Connie suddenly snatched Armin up by his collar, dangerously close to wringing out his neck, "All those times I kept going back to the village where my mom is, all those nights I came to you for advice, and now you're acting like you don't understand?! Well what about you, hunh?! Didn't you have to eat Bertholdt to live again? You should be the last one to talk!" Connie jerked a stunned Armin closer to his face as he affirmed, "I'm getting my mom back, and don't you stop me!"
"Move!" Mikasa suddenly yelled out, snatching Armin out of Connie's grip.
You jumped back just as the bulky body of a Titan came slamming down on the roof, splitting a gaping hole between the group. You were still trying to back away from the greedy mouth of the Titan before you, when Armin shouted out Connie's name. Your head was on a swivel from Jean who's arms were now bare to Connie who was propelling himself through the mob of Titans with Falco in his grip.
You immediately ran down the roof, only to slide to a stop when the slam of a Titan's hand came crashing down in front of you, creating another hole. You frantically dug in your pockets for your knife, but was ambushed from behind. You didn't have to turn around to know who your captor was.
"Armin. Let go of me." You tried to shove him off, but your attempts failed. The boy was keeping an iron grip on your arms, forcing you to keep them at your side.
"Don't you see all those Titans?!" Armin exclaimed, working to keep you from full out throwing yourself off the roof. "You're one of the Ten! They'll go crazy for you!"
"And I'll kill every single one of them. I can do it." You affirmed with malice in your eyes, still trying to use what little movement you could in your hands to reach for your knife. Where the hell is it?!
"You'll kill yourself going out there!" Jean yelled.
"You! Don't say a word to me!" You snapped, fighting to get out of Armin's grip. He practically picked you up to force you closer to the rest of the group. "You did that on purpose! You gave Falco to Connie!"
"I promise I didn't! Connie snatched him from me in the heat of the moment!" Jean said apologetically. He had a genuine look of concern written on his face as he craned his neck to see if he could spot Connie among the savage Titans. "I can't see them anymore! He's gone!"
At that, it felt like your heart was being stomped on. You nearly fell to your knees when Armin set you down on your feet, but he held you up.
"I-I doubt Connie would actually do it. He wouldn't do that to a kid." Armin was desperate, spewing out any excuse to make you calm down.
"This isn't fair! Porco and Colt died for him, just for Connie to kill him anyways. I can't let their sacrifices be for nothing. I won't lose anyone else!" You argued, lip quivering at the hint of a cry. You were beyond pissed off, and sad all at once. You never really got to process your emotions after everything that happened. You were overwhelmed with bottled up feelings. Connie taking Falco was only the spark to set off the outburst.
You've done all this, betrayed your own friends, just to fight for the Scouts and Connie goes and does that. It felt like the ultimate act of betrayal.
Armin tilted your chin up to face him, stern but not hard enough to hurt you. Deep hues of soft blue radiated comfort into your teary eyes as he said, "You won't lose anyone else. I promise. I'll do my best to stop Connie, myself, if I have to." He affirmed confidently.
But you were anything but comforted by that. You knew damn well, just like everyone else, that Armin probably wouldn't go after Connie. He wasn't the confrontational type, the one to throw himself in a fight that wasn't his.
You let him think you fell for his sly little trick into calming you down, leaning into his touch just enough for him to finally relax. For his arms to loosen up on your figure and give you space.
"I appreciate that Armin.."
And then you swiped your finger across the blade you found shoved deep in your pocket.
"But your best just isn't good enough."
You watched something change in Armin's eyes, didn't miss the way his mouth fell open in shock. But in the moment, you couldn't care less.
As mad as you were, you still spared the group enough time to avoid being burnt to ash in your transformation. Warning them with bolts of electricity sparking around your body in a neverending dance as your eyes brightened to a glow. Mikasa practically snatched a stunned Armin up like a mother to their child as she jumped off the roof, and Jean was forced to follow.
The Spiked Titan materialized almost instantly, breaking the roof in with it's weight. And as soon as the swarm of frenzied Titans began to close in, yearning to sink their teeth into the nape of one of the Ten, a powerful warcry escaped the Spiked Titan's lips. Mikasa and the others had to cover their ears to avoid their eardrums bursting, duck their heads from the debris of windows shattering at the frequency of your shout.
But when they looked up again, they were stunned to see that all the Titans around you had frozen to a standstill. Like mindless puppets, the Titans stood with drooling mouths and hazy eyes.
You raised your fists and fired off a round of large, thick spikes. Each spike buried itself through the throat of a Titan to stick it's sharp pointy tip out at the Titans' napes, instantly killing them.
You were surrounded in a cloud of steam from the Titans' degenerations as you turned around to face the Scouts over your shoulder, almost as if you were telling them What're you waiting for?
"Right. Follow (Y/n). Whatever she doesn't kill, we take it." Mikasa ordered, already flying away from the roof to perch on your shoulder as you began to stomp away.
Armin was still in a fit of shock as he followed after the rest of you. You really had him fooled. He thought you had given in, that his attempts at getting you to listen to him had finally landed. But boy was he wrong. Guess he wasn't the only one who was a good liar.
As him and Jean trailed behind you and Mikasa, Armin couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu take over him while he watched you. You and Mikasa had taken on a routine; you using your Titans' shout to freeze the Pure Titans, and then you and Mikasa both killing the Titans' yourselves while Jean and Armin took up the rear for anything left behind.
He remembered the attack on Trost, the battle that started everything. It was the day he felt so weak, and doubted himself so much, that he was willing to stay behind and be eaten alive by a Titan rather than follow you, Connie, and Mikasa to HQ. But you and Mikasa forced him to his feet and led the way to HQ, courageously killing any Titan that stepped in your way. Today felt like a repeat of that day.
Your best isn't good enough, echoed through Armin's mind.
Did you still see him as that cowardly boy who couldn't step up that day in Trost? Did you see him as a pushover? Or someone who could stand their own ground? He had a feeling it was the former.
He wanted to show you that he was different now. In fact, he would. He'd prove you and anyone else wrong.
So he threw himself into battle, and helped you and Mikasa lead the way to HQ.
━━━━━━
In less than an hour, every Pure Titan wandering around Shiganshina was no more.
With you being one of the Ten, you were practically a Pure Titan magnet. You led them all to HQ where they gathered around the crumbling building, and used your Titan's cry to freeze majority of them, so the Scouts could easily strike them down. And it ended considerably better than you expected.
But you were still angry, and barely speaking to anyone, when things finally settled down. You felt that you were wasting time standing around HQ when Falco was out there about to play as an appetizer to a paralyzed Titan.
You were still there only because Mr. Braus, Sasha's father, personally asked for your help. And you couldn't deny him. So with the company of Armin and Mikasa, you followed Mr. Braus down a set of stairs.
"Sorry to bother you while all this stuff is goin' on." Mr. Braus apologized, "Mia needs some help, and I figured you'd be the best person."
Mia? Where have I heard that name before?
"Of course, sir. It's no problem." You say back, but as you approached the end of the stairs and step into a small room where the Braus family is gathered, your jaw drops at the girl standing in front of everyone. "Gabi?"
"(Y/n)!" She rejoiced, practically throwing herself around your waist as she hugged you. "I'm so glad it's you."
Now that, wasn't the reaction you were expecting. Shouldn't she be angry with you for betraying Marley? For joining the side of the wicked devils? She didn't even mention anything, just wrapping herself closer to you.
You were baffled as you hesitantly patted her head, "Why are you still here? I thought you left with the airships?"
"I was supposed to, but I stayed behind for Falco." She hurriedly explained before pulling away to look behind you, "Is he with you?"
And just like that, you were mad all over again. At the clench of your jaw, Armin quickly took reign of the conversation, bringing it upon himself to quickly explain the whole situation to everyone.
"Can't Eren Jaeger just turn Connie's mom back into a human? The Founding Titan can do anything, right?" Gabi asked with high hopes.
"I'm sure he can. He's just too busy stomping the world flat to think about it." You answered, prompting a wild look in Gabi's eyes to occur. Armin shot you an exasperated look, silently voicing his disapproval of your comment. Not that you gave a damn.
She dropped to her knees at Armin's feet, tears pricking her eyes as she clung onto the boy's pants in a fit of desperation. "Does Eren Jaeger really have to kill everyone outside this island?! He doesn't have to do that! He could just attack all the military facilities! Tell him that! Please!"
Armin only wore a depressed look as he stared down at Gabi, on the brink of tears as she sat on the floor. You moved to help her up as she shouted, "Eren Jaeger even took away the Armored Titan's armor! If he can do that, he could change Connie's mom back!"
At that, you gasped in surprise, "Where's Reiner right now?"
"I hid him away." Gabi cried, frustrated from no one giving her a real solution or answer to Falco. "He's too injured to move."
Or does he just not want to? You thought to yourself, until another thought occurred. Is everyone still on the island? Did anyone actually leave?
But while you were still stuck on that, Armin was thinking of something totally different. He nearly pushed you over to get to Gabi, grasping her shoulders with crazed blue eyes.
"The Armored Titan's hardening was undone?! When! When did it happen!" He demanded a shaken Gabi. Both you and Mikasa shared a confused look before going back to watching.
"It happened when the walls fell." Gabi answered quietly, just as puzzled as the rest of you.
Armin looked like someone just told him the most shocking news in the world. He didn't say a word as he suddenly bolted for the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Mikasa asked the question everyone was thinking, aloud.
"I have to go." Was all Armin said as he raced up the steps. Mikasa followed him without a word, but you had other plans.
You looked down at Gabi, who looked up at you. And with a grab of her hand, you pulled her to the stairs too, "You and I are leaving."
to be continued!
word count: 3.7k
🗒 ❛ authors note ! ༉‧₊˚✧
why're you stopping? you thought that was it? 🤨
wooo double chapter update 🥳🥳🥳