Five Years Forward
Long had it been, since he had let her go. He had let the Female Titan slip through his fingers. He couldn’t help himself. He knew all that she had done was worthy of immediate death. By that time, he already had innocent blood on his hand. Killing came easily to him. But for some reason, he couldn’t find it in himself to end her. Some Recon Scout he turned out to be. Even so, that was then.
Odd, that he would think of it now. He entered the bar with the rest of the squad, ordering a tea while the others ordered beverages that would have them falling over later. Perhaps they deserved it. They had lost five today. Five more bodies to bury. Five more comrades that Armin never cared to know. He knew the life expectancy of the soldiers within the legion, and as such had stopped becoming attached to them. After all, why love what is fleeting?
”And if it isn’t too much to ask, I’d like some soup and bread for all of my—” Was he really seeing what he thought he was? No one else had seemed to notice, but Armin could never mistake those eyes. He cleared his throat, "Comrades. Thank you." He finished, showing no desire to speak out on the fact that he had indeed just caught a glimpse of Annie. It seemed that the past was following him on this night. Whether for good or bad… He would find out, once his men were thoroughly drunk, and unable to remember what happened tonight.
As it were, he asked the tender where the restroom was, and quickly made his way to the back of the establishment, desperate for another chance to glimpse what he had seen. Perhaps his mind had played a trick on him, in return for the earlier nostalgia. Soon enough, however, Armin’s question was answered. Once more, he saw her. Out of earshot from his comrades, he felt it safe to say something. He wondered if she would remember him. He had changed quite a bit since the last time she had seen him, having grown almost a foot. His hair was longer as well, though thankfully he did not have to wear glasses. His eyes were perhaps the one thing people recognized him by. As blue as the ocean Armin still yearned to see.
A deep breath, and then…
”Annie…”
How pitiful,the rise and fall of the mighty Female Titan became that of a mere bar wench. Though, it wasn't a bad life nor was it enjoyable but money spoke and that was all that she was in this hell hole for. Those that had become grabby with her often faced the icy cold glare of the small blonde who had no remorse to spare for those in the establishment, this was just another stop for her one that wouldn't be permanent in the slightest bit. Her eyes would peer from place to place seeing only those that wore the former Military branch she had been associated with, nostalgia sank in to the pit of her stomach as she felt her whole body suddenly grow tired.
There where reasons she had for doing all of the heinous acts, none that these people would bother to sit and listen to. Nor did she have the patience to explain anything to anyone. The shift of hers was nearly over and for that she could leave to find a place of refuge, somewhere to stay for a meager pay-- the life of a fugitive was never easy. People knew her from four hundred different names, never one that fitted her, never the truth.
Rowdy soldiers had been sated with endless spills of liquor and patrons indulged in sins they could all buy with the right price but she had no desire to stay and converse with any of them not like the rest of the women in the bar tended to do. Quickly, she handed in the payments to the owner of the establishment speaking that she no longer was on shift and it was time for her to leave which in return she was given a good amount of pay.
The clacks of the small heels echoed upon the wooden floors, fluid movements as she walked on by like a ghost of yesterday. Though, her ears caught something...no, someone was speaking to her and for a split second she could of bolted out the door to not be caught but instead she stopped and turned around slowly. The billows of heavy fabrics from the skirt she wore following her movements as her lips pried open to speak, "Wrong name, sorry, there is no Annie here" but then there was a mixture of emotions surging through her.
That was her name, one she could not use in because the looming threat of execution and torture was in the air and she wanted nothing more to find those two boys from her homeland to run back to safety. What she hadn't expected though was the name to fall from the lips of the past, the gaze made of nothing but frost locking on to the oceanic eyes of the brilliant boy.
Of course he had changed in physical demure but, she remembered that gaze and like a predator she tried to make herself appear as dangerous as possible with little attention drawn to her. "Sorry, I have to go" if Armin was close that meant others had to be near by, the way her hands shook showed she was not going to risk it by standing around and talking instead she merely headed out on to the deserted streets, a far more safer place to discuss anything for she could easily bolt and hide in the dark or deny up and down that this man had the wrong person and he was mad in the head.
