Chapter 16: The Confrontation.

                                    

                                          
Armin had an arm around the sad girl as he took her down the wooden stairs, each step creaked beneath them thanks to the floor boards. 
                          
As he walked down those stairs, he took a quick glance at Annie. She was most definitely pretty in his opinion. To him, she had one of those faces you'd remember very vividly, which usually was reserved for the special people in his life.
                          
"Alright Annie, let's finish up that pie, better get to it before the flies do."
                          
The quiet nodded as she looked down at the ground, Armin began to gesture her towards the kitchen, allowing her in first, before they both froze before either could enter.
                          
A single knock at the wooden door.
                          
They both turned their heads towards the door, wide eyed. Armin's breath got slightly heavier whilst Annie continued to remain silent, allowing her eyes to do all the talking.
                          
After a brief moment came another knock, a little louder this time.
                          
Armin looked over at Annie, making a quick gesture for her to get ready if anything bad were to happen, before slowly approaching the wooden door.
                          
He slowly opened it, only to be met with a welcome, yet strange surprise.
                          
Eren and Mikasa?
                          
Armin's fearful expression soon turned to one of joy as he began smiling at his friends, who returned with their own smiles.
                          
"Armin!" Eren exclaimed slightly.
                          
"Eren! Mikasa! You guys!"
                          
"Hello Armin." Mikasa replied back with, her tone quieter than Eren's, yet her smile compensated for it.
                          
"You guys, how did you manage to find me?" Armin asked, his tone not changing regardless.
                          
Eren replied back with, "Me and Mikasa decided to try and look for you, we were getting worried you see. Took us a while but as managed to find you, heh."
Mikasa nodded in agreement.
                          
"Oh! Well, come in, please." Armin guided the pair inside, who followed suit behind, "It's been a while since I've talked to you g-"
                          
As soon as he has turned his attention away from the pair, and in front of him, did he see her.
                          
Annie was standing there, her ring on her finger with the sharp dagger on said ring out. 
"Stand behind me, Armin." She commanded over to him.
                          
"A-Annie? What-" He began.
                          
"Just get behind me, don't by what they say." She glanced over at the pair, a cold, dead expression.
"You didn't come alone, did you? The scouts are just outside, aren't they?"
                          
Armin slowly turned his head over to the pair.
"...That's not true...is it?"
                          
Eren and Mikasa reluctantly nodded, before Eren spoke, "Please, give it up and come with us, you two..."
                          
He was noticeably pained in his voice at this moment.
                          
Armin began to sweat, what was he-
                          
"Armin. Behind me." Annie spoke up, her eyes now focused on the blond haired boy.
                          
He looked at either sides. On one side, Eren and Mikasa, his two childhood friends. On the other, Annie Leonhart...
                          
Armin had finally made up his mind.
                          
He sighed before walking over to Leonhart, and gently grabbing her by the shoulders.
                          
"Armin, what are you-"
                          
"Annie, think about this. Outside, there is the scout regiment; even if you turn into a Titan, they'll be on us instantly. Even if we do escape, where will we go? To another cabin to get caught?
                          
Please. Maybe this'll be the easier way, for us..." He finally finished as he edged his head slightly closer to her's.
                          
Annie sighed in response, briefly closing her eyes before opening them again to look at him. 
                          
What beautiful eyes.
                          
She soon took of the ring, handing it to Armin, "...I hope you're right..."
                          
The pair soon faced Eren and Mikasa, nodding. The other pair soon turned around and exited, and soon, so did Armin and Annie.
                          
Only one thought ran through the young blond boy's mind...
                          
...What now?