Attack on Titan: On the Run

Just to warn my readers, this is based off the arc in season 3. ( So if you haven't seen the season 3 arc or read the arc in the books, it might be a little confusing ) but Basically ( spoil alert ) every soilder within the scouts are being placed with charges and under arrest. Kiyomi is still in the city when this event is taking place. This is before squad Levi leaves the Cabbin up in the mountains and goes after Eren to rescue both him and Historia from their kidnappers. Enjoy!

It was another day living within the walls. But it was anything but a normal or ordinary day.

I have no idea why, but us, the scouts, have all been placed under arrest over crimes. I bet it's under false crimes though.

All I have ever done is venture beyond the walls, fight Titans, save and protect my comrades, did my duty as a soldier for humanity's sake.

I was hoping if I stayed in the scouts perhaps I could help play a part in finding out the truth about the Titans. That perhaps if I stayed, I can help everyone reach that goal so we can defeat them and live outside once more. So we could be free.

But after everything, the government wants us thrown into prison. And for what?

I was scared, I seriously didn't want to be locked up. Being locked up in a cell is way worst than being caged inside these walls. I mean, if I get locked up all I'll really be able to do is eat crappy food and shit. I don't want that.

A-And what if I get locked in a cell with a very strong and angry person, and they end up beating me up for no absolute reaso--

No...I have to keep myself from thinking such thoughts. I have to focus on escaping from the city...somehow.

I was afraid of what would happen to me if I were to be caught but I had to drift my thoughts away from the fear if I wanted any chance of escaping.

I was hiding in an alleyway and peeked outside. There were soldiers everywhere. Garrison, Military police...and if there were any scouts out there, they were chained up and being lead in a line into the closest prison nearby.

My heart nearly jumps out of my chest when one of the soldier's looks my way. I hide deeper into the alley. They didn't look like a scout...I seriously have to get out of here. And fast.

I carefully hurried deeper into the alleyway without being seen and luckily I was close towards the gate. But soldiers were guarding near that area. Darn it.

They must be standing guard so nobody like me who is still in the city can escape…

But I was completely astonished when I looked near a dumpster next to me. A….soldier's jacket?

I walked over and grabbed it to see a Garrison symbol on it. I guess I was lucky.

I replaced it with my scout jacket and I made sure to put back on my cloak. I've been wearing a plain cloak this whole time so if anyone spotted me, they wouldn't know my identity.

Literally there are wanted posters of every soldier enlisted in the scouts everywhere in the city.

Both the government and the Military police are talking crap about all of us...saying terrible things about us, and spreading lies to make us sound like bad people.

But I stepped out of the alleyway speed walking towards the gate. I ignore eye contact with the soldier's and continue to proceed beyond the gate before a voice stopped me.

“Hey, where are you going soldier? And pull down your hood.”

Fear immediately swelled up inside my body and I froze up, uncertain what to do. They will be suspicious if I don't act, so I pulled down my hood as they asked and prayed that they wouldn't recognize me.

“I'm a soldier within the Garrison Regiment and I was given orders to step outside the gates and help out a party in search of traitorous scouts.” I inform a lie.

I've heard there is, if not already, going to be search party sent out in the mountains in search of any scouts who may had escaped the city.

“Oh, so your with that squads search party? Go ahead.” The soldier waves his hand.

My heart nearly jumps out of my chest in excitement and hope, and I nod before walking out.

I wanted to run out so badly, but that would cause suspicion. But when I was far enough from the gates, too far for anyone to spot me, I made a run for it into the woods.

    

                    * * *

I ran and I ran, without looking back. But then I heard voices shouting. I turned to see certain people chasing me. Were they a search party after scouts who managed to escape outside of the city? Most likely.

Scared, I ran faster and farther away . The trees blew past in my vision as I ran and ran. I needed to get away. I need to escape. I need to find him.

Right now my top priority is to avoid being captured and getting thrown in jail, of course. But I was worried. I had many, many worries but this time this worry isn’t for myself. It’s for another. Armin Arlert.

I consider him my best friend. We met during training when we enlisted into the 104th to become soldiers. At first I was really shy and quiet, I really didn’t speak to anyone. All I really did was train, study, and shove my face in a book.

But one day Armin spoke to me. We seemed to have quite a bit in common, we both liked to read, we enjoy the outdoors, we are both curious about the Outside World, we are both smart, we can be shy at times….and can both be crybabies.

Because of Armin I managed to crawl out of my shell a bit. Because of Armin I was able to become a better person. If I hadn't met him, Eren or Mikasa….I don't know what life as a soldier would be like for me.

I was worried about the possibility that Armin may have got caught and dragged into prison with the rest of the scouts. But I wanted to believe otherwise. Especially since I ran into a wanted poster of him.

It was just laying on the ground in the city, it must have came off from a building wall. When I picked it up, I couldn't get my mind off him. Or the rest of my friends. Are they ok? Are they well? I really hope they weren't captured yet.

But there was a couple of people chasing me in these woods. It sounded like three or four? Or perhaps more than that many?

I looked back at them and it turned out being a mistake. The moment I turn my gaze forward, I found myself tripping and I rolled down a hill, crashed into a tree and twisted my right ankle.

Darn it!

It hurt very badly and I winced. But I still heard the shouts. I placed my hands on the tree, using it as something to help me up.

But when I stood up on both feet, a sharp pain made its way in my right ankle and I hissed.

I have to get away.

I dart forward and start running while nearly tripping. It was so difficult, the pain was unbearable.

But right when I was about to fall forward, something caught me, pulled me close from behind and I felt something ice cold nearing my neck.

“Don't move a muscle and stay quiet.”

A chill came over me upon hearing these words. But the chill immediately left, replaced by a warm feeling when I recognized the voice to whom these words came from.

“A-Armin!?” I gasped and turned my gaze to look behind me. Indeed it was the blonde coconut I’ve come to adore.

He had a confident, cool and tough look in his gaze. I've never seen him look this way before…It was….he was….kinda cool. I ended up finding myself blush.

But when he looked into my face his expression immediately changed to  astonishment.

“K-Kiyomi?!” His eyes nearly shot out of his skull and his mouth dropped open in disbelief.

“Y-You're ok! You weren't captured!” He drops the knife he originally had pointed at my neck without a second thought.

“Yeah! I managed to escape out of the city thanks to this jacket.” I smiled before stepping back to lift my cloak's side so he could see the jacket pockets symbol. It was the symbol of a rose, representing the Garrison regiment.

But upon stepping back for him to see, I found myself slipping and I fell quite hard onto my butt.

Armin reached a hand out in reaction, wanting to help catch me, but he was too slow.

“Ooow…” I groaned in pain.

So from twisting an ankle to falling on my butt. What's next?

“Kiyomi, are you ok?” Armin reachs an extended hand out for me to take hold of.

While blushing I take hold of it and try to stand. But then I forgot about my twisted ankle and tried to hold back a hiss so I wouldn't worry Armin.

It was difficult to rise up, even with the help of Armin. Seeing this, he offers his other hand as well. I take hold of both tightly, and he helps pull me up. It worked.

I sighed in relief when I finally got up.

“Thanks Armin.” I grin a smile.

“N-No problem.”

After that, other people appeared. And they were people I was familiar with.

It was Levi, Mikasa, Jean, Sasha and Connie! Levi’s squad. We were reunited. The only missing member now is Eren.

Hold on….why is Eren missing?

Everyone greets me and is relieved that I was not captured. Sasha and Connie got all teary eyed over it.

Levi informed me about everything that happened, the situation, what Happened to Eren, why the scouts are under false charges to be arrested and this and that.

Levi also added that for now everyone is hiding out in a cabin up in the mountains. That would be our destination next.

I was so hungry and sore...I haven't eaten anything in two or three days. It hurt. And my poor ankle and butt….

As we walked on foot as a group to the cabin up in the mountains, I would stumble at times, trying to hide the fact that I twisted my ankle so I wouldn't burden anyone, or especially worry Armin.

But Armin, being as smart as he is, was able to notice and spoke up.

“Kiyomi, are you ok?”

He could see and sense that I wasn't alright. Perhaps it's because I'm walking funny. Perhaps it's because I keep stumbling. Perhaps it's because of the fact I'm trying to avoid hissing. Or maybe it's because I keep squinting. Either way, I couldn't fool Armin by not saying anything.

“Um...well, my ankle or foot sorta….erm, hurts.” I admitted.

“Did you twist it or something?” Armin ask while  concern could be seen easily in his eyes.

“Does it hurts? What did you do to it?”

“Well..I was being chased and I ended up tripping and rolled down a hill and…”

“I'm so sorry! That was me and Levi! I didn't realize it was you we were chasing. We thought you were the Garrison or Military police.” Mikasa apologized. She seemed incredibly guilty.

“Tch, what are we stopping for? You runts want captured that badly? Hurry up.” Levi tsked at us heartlessly before turning back to lead everyone ahead.

But as we gone farther, it would hurt more and more. My right foot felt as though it was weakening. It felt as though it was somewhat numbing despite the fact the pain was worsening. It was weird.

But I end up tripping forward and scrapping myself.

“K-Kiyomi! Please, what's wrong? Please tell me!” Armin kneels down and helps me back up.

“It's my foot….or something.” I say.

At the time I didn't know whether my ankle was twisted or not, so...

Armin ends up sitting me down on a big rock nearby and he removes my boot and takes a look at my foot.

He gasp when he discovers what it was. I twisted my ankle.

“You’ve twisted your ankle.” Armin informs as he observes.

“I-Is….can it ever get untwisted?” I ask worriedly.

“Well...I can see what I can do once we get to the cabin. It hurts to walk, doesn't it?” he finishes observing my ankle and he meets his gaze with mine.

“Y-Yeah…” I admit.

“Do you mind if I help support you?”

“S-Sure…” I blush lightly.

I put my boot back on, Armin helps me up and places my left arm over his shoulder and we walk together.

It's surprising easier walking now with Armin's support….he's so sweet.

Eventually we make it to the cabin everyone has been staying at. We walk in and settle down.

Armin places me on a sofa. He grabbed a wet towel and places it onto my head.

“Your burning up.”

Armin's so sweet….but I'm healthy, I'm sure. The reason I'm hot is simply because we've all been journeying here for a few hours. But he doesn't seem to be affected very much by it. Perhaps he's not as physically weak as he makes himself believe.

“I'll be back.”

Huh? Where was he going?

Armin heads outside near a river and brings back a bucket of water. I don't know how, but he had materials or other with him to turn the water very cold.

“Ice would work more efficiently, but this is the best I can do for now. Just rest while I keep your ankle cool, ok?”

Armin wrapps a freezing cold and wet cloth around my ankle. It felt very soothing and nice.

“Are you hungry?” He ask next.

“Yeah…. extremely. I don't think I've eaten in two or three days…” I replied.

“I-In two or three days!?” Armin nearly shouts upon receiving my answer.

He jumps up, and darts into the tiny kitchen. He immediately starts cutting up potatoes for me and even brought back an apple. He also gave me a thing of water.

“T-Thank you…” I smile.

“Your welcome, just rest up now, ok? Let me Know if your still hungry after eating.”

Armin is such a sweetheart….he's seriously spoiling me.

“Tsk, Arlert we can't be getting rid of so much food now.” Levi scoulds Armin with a terrifying glare.

“B-But she hasn't eaten in two or three days! We can't just let her starve!”

“Tsk, fine.” Levi walk off to clean.

“Kiyomi, don't worry about Levi, ok? Eat as much as you’d--”

“No fair!!!” Sasha shouts.

“Come on Sasha, she hasn't eaten in two or three days!” Armin informs Sasha next.

“I-In two or three days!? That's crazy! I couldn't imagine not eating in that long. S-Sorry Kiyomi!” Sasha immediately apologizes and bows to me.

“It's ok, it's ok, I Know you'd be jealous since you love to eat.” I giggle as I tried reassuring her that it was all fine.

After eating a bunch of potatoes, apples and a whole drink of water, I ended up falling asleep.

Usually I never ever have naps. The only time anyone would ever catch me sleeping would be during the night. I never sleep during the day. So Armin was surprised when he saw me asleep.

He thought I looked cute….

But eventually he woke me up to massage my ankle. The only thing he was really able to do for my ankle right now was have a cold cloth on it, give me rest and massage it, in hopes it will get better and get back into place right.

It would sting and I would hiss a little at first but slowly the pain would disappear. It sorta felt nice having Armin massage it. But he eventually stopped and it was time for dinner.

“Dinner time!? Already?!” I was so shocked. Did that much time really already passed?

“You were sleeping for most of the time, so yeah.” Armin smiles sweetly.

He helps me up and I manage to walk to the dinner table by myself. It looked like we were having soup with cut up pieces of potato in it, with bread as a side.

Usually I don't care for soup besides Tomato soup, but it actually tasted good. Why wouldn't it? I haven't ate food in a couple days! Anything would taste out of this world in that kind of a situation!

By time I had finished and had my tummy stuffed, Sasha’s mouth dropped open.

“K-Kiyomi did you seriously just beat me!?” Shouts Sasha in utter shock.

Huh? What did she mean?

I glanced down and saw how she was still devouring her food. But I already finished up on my food. Oh, I see what it is. I beat her when it came to eating. Wow...I never knew I'd become much quicker at eating than Sasha.

“Wow, somebody sure was hungry.” Armin chuckles.

I giggled and so did Mikasa.

Eventually nightfall came. It was really peaceful and quiet here. I kinda like it. But...it felt weird not having Eren around. I was so used to being around all three of Armin, Mikasa and Eren.

We are supposed to be going after to save Eren from his kidnappers starting tomorrow morning. So that will be a relief if we manage to save and find him.

But I can't help but worry about Mikasa. Multiple times today she has tried darting out to go after Eren. But each time she did, Levi would get in her way and snap some sense into her. I'm glad he did. I don't want to lose Mikasa too…

I was still having a lot of difficulty walking...the cold and wet washcloth wasn't doing much. Usually you're supposed to use an pack of cold ice against a twisted ankle, not a cold-wet washcloth.

But being on the run like we are, we are limited on resources. So having a cold and wet washcloth over my swollen ankle was better than nothing.

I have a feeling the rest and Armin's massaging over my ankle is what's helping it heal the most.

I stood up and went over to the door.

“Um...I'm going to be sitting outside for some fresh air.” I tell everyone.

“Do whatever you want brat, just don't go too far. If you see anyone out there at all, hurry back inside.” Responds Levi.

“Ok!” I nodded before heading out.

“Hm...your healing methods is actually doing pretty good Arlert.” Compliments Levi.

“T-Thank you sir. All I want is for her to be able to walk on her two feet properly again, and soon. We are going to be on the run again tomorrow, and I don't want her to feel like a burden on us.”

“She will be a burden if she can't walk by tomorrow however.”

“Not if I can't help it sir. Even if she can't walk properly by tomorrow, I'll carry her if I have to.”

“You would carry her? Hmf.” Levi walks off. It surprised him however that Armin was willing to go this many lengths for me. But he knew it had to do with the bond we had.

“As long as neither of you drags the rest of us down, do as you will.”

                 * * *

I sat outside on the steps in peace. It was so quiet, beautiful and peaceful out here. I would look out at the horizon that shone many different shades of color with beaming bright stars.

There was also mountains that can be seen other some hills. It's a pain being trapped behind walls, but when you get out of the city and into the countryside, its really beautiful, you can forget the fact that you are caged cattle for awhile.

I sat here along, admiring the beauty of the outdoors around me, but then a voice spoke up softly.

“Hey Kiyomi. How are you doing?”

I turned my head around and smiled big. The one who approached me from behind was no other than Armin.

“I'm doing good. And thank you for everything today. And...y’know, for helping with my ankle.”

“It's no problem.” He starts as he sits down besides me.

“But if you are ever in a situation like this again where you wind up getting hurt, please, tell me. I know I might not seem very reliable, but I can help. I'm not much of a doctor or anything of the sort, but I Know a few of the basics to help others out. So...what I'm trying to say is, if you ever get wounded or hurt, even if it's trivial, please tell me. I don't mind helping.”

I smiled at him once more. It was reassuring to know he cared enough to want to heal me if I ever get hurt again. He's so sweet. He's always thinking of others before himself.

“Thank you, Armin. I'll keep that in mind next time I get hurt.”

I catch him blushing lightly before he alters his gaze from mine shyly and he stares into the horizon.

“It's really pretty out here, huh? It's nothing like in the walls. Because of the building lights, street lights, and lamp lights, we can't ever get a good view of the night sky like this. The best view of it is in an area without many lights. Just sitting in the dark like this is perfect for it.”

Armin sure did know a lot about this...but it would make complete sense seeing how smart he is.

I wasn't sure if I was ever going to have another chance. If we are going after Eren, he may be inside the walls. If we fail to reach to him, fail to save him...if we get captured or attacked by anyone, this could be the last time we may be together.

I don't want it to be, but it's always a possibility. I look over to see Armin watching the night sky while his eyes lit up with a great big smile on his face. This was the exact look he had when he once told me about the ocean.

He told me about it when he learnt that I was also interested in the world outside the walls. The look in his eyes….it was as if he could see into a dream that I couldn't.

I always imagined that the outside world was filled with nothing but grassy plain hills, just like here. But once Armin told me about the things that could exist outside that he read from a book, he opened up my imagination. I wanted to believe that there was more outside.

He promised me we would see it together one day, and with Eren and Mikasa too. But we are soldiers. We could die at any given moment. There is a chance we won't be able to see it. But still…

“Um…” I stuttered out without much thought of what I wanted to say.

“Hm? Did you say something?” Armin turns his attention to me.

I blushed but quickly made up my mind and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. His face heats up immediately.

“Armin...thank you for everything. I'm glad I got to know you and we met.” I muster the biggest smile I could.

“Kiyomi, what are you saying? You're treating this like…”

I immediately wipe away a tear threatening to escape my eyes to hide the fact I was nearly going to get all teary eyed. But Armin saw it. There's no way he couldn't of.

Armin ends up grabbing me into a close hug, shocking me.

“Kiyomi, I'm not going anywhere, ok? Nothing is going to happen that will split us apart….ok? I swear I won't leave you behind. We will see the ocean together one day. That's a promise.”

I hugged back and allowed my tears to stream out from my eyes.

Promise….

The End