literature

(Armin x Reader) RECOLLECT (Ch. 1)

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RECOLLECT (Chapter 1)
Armin x Reader

Erwin was a very masculine and angular man, and his blonde hair was slick. As he sat behind his desk with a proper posture, a shorter man leaned against the wall, arms folded, and his cold eyes watched every move I made. His raven hair casted a shadow over his face and made him rather intimidating.

Behind me, I heard a sharp rustle of cloth—the soldiers were saluting to Commander Erwin. Unsure whether or not to imitate them, Hanji spoke before I could act.

“I am here in regards to this young girl beyond the walls. Here, we have…”

“Armin Arlert of the 104th Trainees Squad. I’ve explained as much as I can about our military in humanity’s situation to her, Commander Erwin.”

Erwin nodded and set his eyes on me before he spoke to me.

“I am Commander Erwin, and this is Levi—Corporal Levi. As you may already know, we are in a world where Titans roam beyond the walls, and the Survey Corps are to protect humanity. Now, as far as I know, you say you don’t have any memory of a world of this kind.”

“Uhm, yes, sir. Though it may sound strange, my memory hadn’t completely been forgotten—they’ve been pinpointed to sections of my senses. Memories based of smell, touch, and taste are absolute. However, my memory on sight and hearing are half gone. The rest, such as memory on my family, myself, are gone completely… Well, perhaps, for the exception of my name.”

“Alright then kid, spit out what you remember.”

I grimaced at the tone of voice this grumpy, short soldier spoke to me with. Finding it quite rude, I shot him a look, and refrained myself from blurting out anything based on his actions. He seems to be the last person I’d want to mess with.

“I live in a small cottage on a cliff, facing the ocean, with a beautiful evergreen forest behind in walking distance. I have never seen a Titan, based off my memory, but I do have rather great knowledge on the human anatomy and medical herbs. I don’t remember the people in my town… but the town was rather far, from the cliff, I remember… I doubt I can recall any further.”

“Oceans, I see… This is a rather unusual situation I never imagined to have encountered while I was alive.”

“You better not be lying, or I’ll beat you to pulp.”

I snapped back, “I am not! But surely you are confused as I am. I don’t know how I even got here.” Sighing, I fiddled with my hands, nervous. “The most frightening thing my townsfolk have claimed to have seen were witches and werewolves. Not Titans.”

“Werewolves? What are they all like? I’ve only briefly read about folklore on the creature…” The curious blonde asked, while his voice drowned towards the end, realizing how he was embracing himself.

“For now, we’d like to keep an eye on you. Would you mind staying in our headquarters for a while? We’ll provide as much as we can for you.”

“I’d very well like to agree with that plan, sir.”

“Thank you for your cooperation, ___(name)____.”

---

I was given a place in the boy’s dorm, which had one conjoined room that was left empty. Having no choice, I accepted the offer to sleep there. Corporal Levi strictly told the boys that if they stepped into my room without permission, they’d be punished by cleaning. I didn’t quite understand why that was a horrible punishment, but I soon found out that the Corporal was a clean freak.

My room was conjoined with Armin and Jean’s. Jean was a rather honest—too honest maybe. But nevertheless, he was equally kind and accepting as everyone else in the Survey Corps.

I sat on Armin’s bunk as I spoke with him for quite a while. I told him the stories and sceneries I’ve seen in my world.

“There’s a sandy beach where I like to take a walk on, and when you stand there, you can feel the ocean creep up the shores and tickle your toes. Sand gets caught between my feet and some people find it uncomfortable, but to me, it makes me feel at ease. It makes me feel like I’m part of something greater than me.” I sighed, reminiscing those memories, breathing in the imaginary, salty water vapors.

“The ocean is really salty, and the vapors that sprinkle onto my face... When a large wave crashes make me smile. These ripples and waves continuously flow towards me, eventually turning into foam, creeping up and sliding back. The ocean changes colors with the light and color of the sky, and its change mesmerizes me. It changes its color so many times, yet it’s the same ocean.”

Armin was carefully listening to ever word I spoke, and I smiled, holding back my tears. A boy, at such a young age, fighting… a never ending war. Not able to see any more than what was within the walls. Only painting with limited colors on his palette. He had more to discover. His eyes, innocently blue, yet painted with a dark shadow of fear.

“That sounds incredible… I’ve always dreamed of going beyond those walls, and hearing this… I think I can. I will, because I’ll have a stronger motive to fight.”

A bell echoed through the halls. I didn’t realize it was already this late. Two moths flew around the lamp that hung from the ceiling, dancing around its warm light. A waltz for two at night.

“I’m sorry for making you listen to my stories till this late.”

“Not at all! You should rest, ___(name)____. We have a long day tomorrow.”

I climbed down the bunk and gave Jean a wave and told him goodnight. Resting my hand on the knob to my room, I looked at Armin once more, watching over me from his bunk. His eyes resemble that of a calm ocean.

“Goodnight, Armin.”

---

Hands reached out to grab me. Pain shot through my ears by the screams and cries, and I felt pain everywhere. Their hands reached out. Grabbing my hair. Grabbing me by the jaw. I screamed. I cried. But there was a certain pain in my heart. A knowledge that sat there in my heart. The knowledge that absolutely no one will help me.

Die! Perish! This creature mustn’t exist in this world!

That phrase repeated again and again in my head. Their words were like knives, leaving scars that wouldn’t disappear for eternity. I longed for…

___(name)____! Are you alright?”

A hoarse whisper echoed in my room as my mind was trying to chain the images to my memory, but the images slowly disintegrated, departing from me. The nightmare left, erasing most of its tracks—aside from the screams and fear.

“A-armin?”

“You were crying for help… Can I come in?”

“Y-yes.”

I sat up in my bed, feeling my body shake. I didn’t even realize myself how helpless I appeared. I was breathing heavily, and my cheeks were wet with freshly shed tears. My heart pounded, ready to break out of my ribcage at any moment. I watched Armin enter my dimly lit room and shuffle towards me.

“I-I’m sorry for waking you up…”

“No, it’s fine. It’s almost time for us to wake up anyway. Was it a nightmare?”

I gripped onto the sheets on my bed. Trying to remember as much as I can. But my memory of the nightmare was limited.

“A group of people… They were trying to kill me. They told me I was a creature that shouldn’t exist in the world…”

“Don’t worry. You belong here, for now, and that’s all that matters.”

Armin wiped away the tears with his thumb, gently stroking my cheek. I couldn’t help but feel so thankful that someone came to help me. Something that I may haven’t had in my past…

“Could you… stay here a little longer?”

Armin simply nodded and pulled up a stool next to my bed and took my hand, wrapping them in his.

“Try to sleep a little more. I’ll wake you up again if you seem to be struggling.”

“Thank you…”

---

When morning arrived, Armin left a note on the stool. The stool was still warm, so he had only recently left. In a beautiful handwriting, he wrote, “See you at breakfast.”

Slipping out of bed, I changed into my long-sleeved shirt and pulled my sweatshirt over it. I slipped on my white pants and stared long at the shoes that were neatly propped against the wall.

There was something about me that I could remember—I disliked wearing shoes. I liked to feel the earth beneath my feet and not beneath the soles of my shoes. I left the shoes there and walked out the door.

---

Over the course of the few days that followed, I observed the soldiers preparing for battle. Many became injured through the process of cutting fake flesh of wooden Titans. The soldiers simply wiped away blood and wrapped their wounds with bandage rolls.

They lacked medical knowledge.

An idea struck me, and I was willing to do anything to make this idea come true. With the little power I had, I could make it become part of something big—something amazing.

On the other hand, my nightmares didn’t end. I could find myself some nights grabbing my mouth, trying not to release a scream. Every night, the dreams became more realistic. Every night, the dream gave me more information on my past. I was something unwanted. Who was I?
I don't own you or the characters from Attack On Titan.

YEAAAAAAAAAH... I'll do a proper description later.
I didn't even start homework so... BYE!!


Yo. Armin is, like, adorable. (●ↀωↀ●) ❤
Am I the only one who, like, squeals every time I think about him. 'Kay. Sorry. (*´∀`*; )
Like, er mai gawd. Dat bowl cut... and dem eyes. And dem shota-ness. ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)

The moment Armin goes uke-mode, I'm gonna be, like,
STAY AWAY FANGIRLS, HE'S MINE. /( .□.) ︵╰(゜益゜)╯︵ /(.□. /)

The moment Armin goes seme-mode (or yandere-mode), I'm gonna be, like,
WOAH THERE ARMIN I GIVE YOU MY BODY (((; ఠ ਉ ఠ))

TOTAL COUNT OF THE WORD "LIKE" USED IN THE DESCRIPTION: 5 (ノ>▽<。)ノ

Prologue: fav.me/d6ruuan
Next! fav.me/d7235u9

EDIT: Preview picture is mine. Wanna see full pic? Here: fav.me/d7c9b7n
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bubbybubbles12's avatar
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMIGOSH I THINK I FIGURED OUT, THANK YOU APUSH AND AMERICAN LIT CLASSES

Is this like a sort of separate universe that women were condemned to after being accused and executed under charges of being a witch in the 1600s? Like a tessarect to hell? BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE SO FREAKING COOL. YAS HISTORY.