The Walls We've Built - ◈ ARMIN ARLERT X OC ◈

Chapter 4 - Hallways

Before I even have time to react Jacob runs out of the resting area, "Jacob!" I yell chasing after him, "Where is she?" He questioned with a defensive expression on his face. "I don't know! Let's go back inside and let the man who does know, take us to her." I say calmly trying to relax him. He looks away from me trying to spot Gen in the recovery tent. He drops his head "Yeah, let's do that."

After we return to the tent, the man takes us to a building filled with soldiers of the scout regiment. "What is this place?" I ask looking around at the men and women injured in beds and standing around staring at us. We walk past 2 particularly intimidating people, a man with black hair the same height as me and a taller woman with brown hair and glasses. Jacob nudges me and whispers "I guess some of the little ones look like they can actually bite too." He says with a smirk on his face gesturing to the shorter man. "Shut up idiot he might hear you," I whisper half scolding him.

The soldier who is named Adam finally replies "This building is a part of the scout regiment, it is the recovery building, all the injured soldiers come here after expeditions to be treated for injuries. Since your friend got hurt so early in the attack we were able to get her in here." He finishes guiding us down a smaller hallway, I look over at Jacob who is still looking at the man with black hair. I nudge him "Don't stare, it's rude" he looks at me with a neutral expression on his face.

Adam stops in front of a door, and behind me, Jacob walks directly into my back making me stumble, he was obviously still looking behind him not paying attention. I give him an 'are you serious look before turning back to Adam, he gestures to the door "She is in there." I go to walk in but Jacob pushes me out of the way making me fall into Adam, "Sorry" I quickly say before going in after Jacob, he just smiled understandingly in response.

"What the hell were you thinking Gen!" Jacob is yelling as I walk in, "Why would you try to take on an 8-meter titan by yourself with barely any fuel! Did you really think you were going to succeed?" Jacob continues pacing back and forth in the room, Gen just looks at me with a confused expression mouthing 'Why am I getting yelled at' I quietly laugh leaning on the wall behind me. Jacob stops his rant and looks at me "Oh when did you get here?" Jacob asks, running his hand through his hair. "About 2 'what the hell were you thinking ago's," I say calmly, as Gen laughs uncontrollably.

"Well, how was I supposed to know? You seemed to be hitting it off with adam." He says defectively, now both Gen and myself are laughing at Jacob, why is he acting so weird. "Hey, stop laughing it might make it worse." Jacob yells at Gen. "You mean laughing will worsen my fractured ankle?" She replies, gesturing to her leg. He sits down on the end of Gen's bed looking at the ground, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you." He says quietly, I notice a change in mood in the room. Why does he blame himself? "Hey like you said I was the stupid one who thought I could take on an 8-meter titan, it's not your fault," Gen says patting Jacob on the shoulder.

We stay with Gen until sunset, and we tell her all about the titan (even though we were told not to). Lost in conversation we all realise how hungry we are and I offer to go get us some food for dinner. I leave the room and make my way out of the building, again I see the man with black hair and a lady with glasses. I smile at them politely as I pass them in the entrance, the woman smiling in return and the man, teenager? Just looks at me and turns away, I brush it off and walk out into the square filled with other soldiers.

As I am walking towards the rations tent I hear someone yell my name behind me, I turn around to see Sasha waving for me to come join her and her friends. I make my way over to them and greet them all before sitting down next to Sasha. "Hey Zariya, where have you been?" Connie asks before munching down on a piece of stale bread. "Oh, my friend was injured early on in the attack so Jacob and I have been with her at the scout recovery building." I say pointing over my shoulder in the direction of the building, "Ooo fancy" Sasha says next to me. "Who is Jacob again?" Connie looks at me puzzled, "Anger issues." Jean says on the other side of Sasha before taking another sip from his cup, she shushes him making everyone at the table go quiet.

"What?" I ask confused, they all just look at each other unsure of what to say. "Well the thing is-" Sasha begins, "That dude has mega anger issues." Connie finished, next to him Christa jabs him in the rib cage, "Hey! I'm just stating the facts!" He yelps rubbing his ribs. Oh, so they aren't a big fan of Jacob huh? "Hey it's ok he was pretty rude back in the supply room," I say half smiling, we continue talking for a bit longer. I ask if they have heard anything from Armin or Mikasa, but they say there was a loud explosion earlier but nothing since. I say goodbye, get some food and make my way back to Gen and Jacob.

By the time I return to the Scouts building, it is completely dark outside, I make my way through the dead hallways trying to retrace my steps back to Gen's room. In the dark, I bump into a figure, "Sorry!" I squint my eyes trying to identify them, "Armin?" I question as the subtle moonlight slightly eliminates the hallway, making his main features visible. He stands in front of the window trying to work out who I am from my voice, I move into the moonlight and Armin's eyes light up. "Zariya! What are you doing here?" He questions half whispering, I tell him about Gen's injury and how she is here being cared for. I ask him the same question in return.

Armin tells me that after Eren was recovered from the titan's carcass, one of the older scouts brought them here. Eren had been checked by the medical team and moved into a jail cell, now he was on his way back to Sasha and the others. "But I don't understand, why would they capture him, he practically just saved humanity!" I ask slightly confused. We sit together on the floor facing the window in the silent hallway. "I understand why they did it," Armin states leaning his head back up against the wall, his Adam's apple bobs up and down as he takes in a deep breath, "Yes, Eren is a trustworthy cadet, but he did just come out of a titan! Who's to say he won't use that power against us?" Armin finished, I don't know if he is asking me or himself.

I look over at him resting my head on my knees, "I don't know you tell me." I say plainly. He turns his head to meet my gaze with a confused look on his face, "You have known Eren since you were little kids correct?" I ask and Armin nods in conformation. "Well, you would know if we can trust him or not" I continue lifting my head from my knees. Armin's piercing blue eyes stare back into mine, "Can we trust him?" I finish, and we stay like that for a moment in silence. "Yes." Armin finally replies, still looking into my eyes. I look out to the window and I hear my stomach quietly rumbling realising I should get going, I quietly sigh before getting up.

Armin also gets up and we say goodbye before going our separate ways, I continue down the hallway and Armin goes in the opposite direction. I look over my shoulder back to Armin and see him doing the same. I smile at him waving before turning around the corner towards Gen's room. Jacob and Gen, they must be extremely hungry.