In the green hills of Pradis island a dozen or so Survey corps members rode on horseback. To them, today marked a special day. For the first time in six years, the day had come for survey corps to embark on an Expedition beyond wall Maria. Dozens of Survey corps members readied themselves, trained, and prepared. For one single purpose. To fight, for their right to exist in this cruel world.
"Just like you predicted, Hange. The titans inside Wall Maria were just about all of them." Captain Levi noted. "Looks like we've culled most of them in only a year."
"I expected so much. let's just head towards our objective" Commander Hange replied.
Crap baskets.
"Are you having problems with your horse again Brat?" Captain Levi said with a frown.
"Of Course not sir, Elizabeth Angela III and I are practically soulmates." Armin replies sounding extremely offended.
I fucking hate this fucking horse.
"Hmm…sure. Just so you know, there won't be an Elizabeth Angela IV" The captain scoffed in amusement.
His friends, always the loyal sort, started to laugh at his expense. He could even hear Eren chuckle. Eren, the guy that was practically a ball of angst for a whole year, chuckled.
"Oh~~ don't worry Armin..." Sasha patted his head condescendingly as she approached him, clearly not meaning a single word she said, "I don't think this one will run away… yet" She added the last part loud enough for everyone to hear it.
Eren - the traitor - actually snickered at me while Mikasa had this wide beaming grin plastered on her face. The others were not so modest with their laughter.
"…I hate you all. I'm not saying that out of spite, but as a genuine fact. The sky is blue, and I hate you." Armin tried to keep as his face as blank as he could muster. But the Quirk of his lip betrayed him. It wasn't even his fault. Horses simply didn't like him.
"Enough… We're close. " the Captain said with an eyeroll.
Fucking diva
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"This is where Eldians were turned into titans." Eren said as we passed a huge white platform. Everyone's face was locked on the grim symbol of persecution of fellow Eldians.
"And just past there…" he mentioned with his head
It's beautiful... Watching it in videos and photos didn't do it justice.
"The ocean…"Armin muttered in a daze. Before slowly directing his horse to the beach. No one stopped him. For they, just as him, were struck by human curiosity to explore. So, they just followed him, slightly more cautiously.
"Brats. Don't touch it. It could be poisonous." Shouted the Captain. But Armin did not concern himself with any of that. As soon as the horse reached the sand he jumped from his saddle, and started removing his clothes leaving only his shorts, he started running...
I guess I was just as obsessed with this as you are huh…?
"Armin!" "Armin!" "Hey!" "What the hell are you doing?!"
Armin at this moment felt truly free. His thoughts of death, discarded. His plans, forgotten. He just dove inside the midday warm ocean water and embraced life, feeling nothing but peace.
"Where the hell did he go?"
"Argh! It's so salty!"
"Hey Sasha!" Connie shouted while splashing her in the face.
"My eyes!! Connie!!"" Sasha screamed.
Suddenly he emerged from the calm water with a huge smile on his face. Genuine happiness clear to all to see.
"ARMIN!" Mikasa's distressed voice rang, which made him turn back at her. He noticed she still was not touching the water. That was a problem. So, he immediately started walking back towards her.
"Hey Mika." he said with a serene smile. A shredded body glistening with water giving him a look screaming seduction.
"Are you okay?" her cheeks painted pink, chewing her lips as she stared at him.
"Yep, never been happier. Now, let's get you out of those shoes." Armin chuckled.
"But…" -he quickly cut her off. "It's fine Mika, trust me."
"Okay…" she said hesitantly, taking a couple of seconds to discard her shoes, then she joined him on the shallow end cautiously.
"How about you Eren? Wanna take a swim?" his words full of enthusiasm.
"It's so huge..."
"It is..."
Here we go again. Ruin my day, why don't you.
"On the other side of the walls is the ocean..." his eyes forward, never looking back "and on the other side of the ocean there's freedom." sigh" that's what I always believed..."
Then he turned back and spoke "but I was wrong. Its enemies that are on the other side of the ocean. This is exactly as I saw in my old man's memories….right?"
Armin simply hummed, knowing full well he wasn't looking for an answer.
"Those enemies on the other side of here, if we kill them all does that mean we'll be free?" He questioned.
"Probably…" Eren simply couldn't register what Armin said, nor did Mikasa for a couple of seconds they just stood there, mouth hanging. For them no matter what changed, their friend was a pacifist to the bone. It was fundamental to his being. To openly admit that killing was an answer to their problem was incomprehensible.
"What?!" "Armin?!"
"Eren, for once, can you forget all about fighting, Merely, Titans and just have fun? For us?" he said, a smile never leaving his features." This has been my dream since I was a kid. you and I, and Mika to reach the ocean. We did it, Eren. just please…"
Just let me have this.
"Armin..." said Mikasa holding his arm.
Armin saw Eren's eyes close and decided it would be best to leave, so he patted him on the shoulder and went back to the shore.
I'm gonna build myself a sand Castle. Armin mused feeling particularly selfish today. He wouldn't let Eren ruin his day. There's a high probability he could die soon, and spending the rest of his days miserable is not what he wishes for himself.
Calmly sitting at the beach he started gathering sand while humming.
" - Oh, shame is a prison as cruel as a grave
Shame is a robber and he's come to take my name
Oh, love is my redeemer
Lifting me up from the ground
Love is the power when my freedom song is found
There ain't no grave
Gonna hold my body down
There ain't no grave-"-
"Brat..."
"Captain..."Armin replied without even turning.
Sigh "we move in an hour. Have fun."
"Thanks." he turned, looking at his Captain's eyes. "It means a lot."
Such a nice scary guy
"Whatever, just finish your teenage Drama here, we have a mission." he answered dismissively.
Teenage drama, huh?
After an eternal debate he stood up, taking a deep breath, he locked his eyes with Erens form and started walking slowly towards his brooding self "Hey Eren!" he shouted
"Armin..." Eren responded frowning from the previous conversation.
"Ever drank 5 gallons of saltwater?" he questioned, grinning mischievously.
Eren, clearly not seeing his friend's malicious intentions, answered confusedly "no..?"
Finally as he reached Eren's personal space he said "Well today's your lucky day..." with a grin spread on his face as he quickly dashed and grabbed his abdomen from the back in a glorious Full Nelson.
Eyes widening, Eren shouted while simultaneously training to wiggle away from his friend's strong grip "What the hell are you doing?! Let go! you bastard!"
Gathering his strength he performed a move so devastating; witnesses later shared it was felt across the whole beach. a true work of art. A perfect Supplex, so divine it made Jean cry from jealousy for the sheer skill of its execution. The move not only brought the utmost shame upon Eren, it also made inhale a considerable amount of saltwater as promised.
A second later Armin emerged from the water looking like a victorious King coming back from battle.
Locking his gaze with his bewildered, gasping for air, victim, he smirked.
"Yes! I defeated you for all time. You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation!" Armin exclaimed the smirk still present on his face.
"Well, that was fun," and just like that it was back to normalcy for our resident social butterfly. Truly, violence was the answer.
With that fixed, it's time to build myself a sandcastle. Maybe I can find some crabs to add as guards
"Pff!" "Wtf!" "Did I ever tell you why I consider you my best friend, Armin?!"
Sasha, Connie, Jean said respectively between laughter.
Mikasa looked scandalized but at the same time utterly amused.
Eren on the other hand, after coughing and regurgitating the remaining water he let out a long defeated sigh and spoke "I was being an ass, wasn't I?" a small defeated, exasperated smile on his face.
"Yes, you were…" Mikasa responded to her step-brother. eyes fixed on him as if daring him to defend himself.
He didn't. He knew better than to anger her. Averting their eyes, both their gazes focused on their favorite person fondly. Seeing him so carefree making a castle out of sand with Jean and Connie gathering shells for him, Sasha pestering him to make it bigger, was heartwarming.
"... let's go have fun Mikasa"
"Okay Eren..." a pretty smile bloomed on her face.