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Hi! I rewatched Attack on Titan not long ago, and I ended up loving the Armin × Annie ship so much that I decided to write a continuation of the story since they’re both still alive.
I hesitated a bit because, honestly, I’m usually too lazy to write, and I’ve never written a fanfiction in my life… but I’ll make an exception for Attack on Titan.
I don’t really know how often I’ll be updating the story, but I’ll try to find some time to write.
I wrote what I think could happen after the ending, and I tried my best to keep the characters true to their canon personalities.
P.S. AruAni is the best Attack on Titan ship—sorry, haters. 😌
Anyways enjoy reading !!
Two weeks after the end of the Rumbling at Fort Salta, tents had been pitched, and the few survivors were helping each other to live a nearly normal life.
Armin and his friends had formed a habit of gathering on a small hill, lighting a fire, and eating together before going to sleep. Speaking of Armin, since Eren's death he had changed quite a bit; he smiled less, spoke less, and was content with working alongside Commander Muller to try and reorganize the world after all of this. As for Annie, she had indeed found her father, but their relationship was a bit strange after all this time apart, especially since he wasn't her real father and they didn't really have any good memories together.
That evening, they were all gathered in a large tent with Muller and other soldiers.
"A rider came with a letter today; he's from the city of Valdheim, a town a few hours from here, and he informed us that Chancellor Lein invites you, the heroes who saved the world, to their city to meet you," Muller announced.
"Finally! We're finally going to get out of this horrible desert," Connie exclaimed.
"Don't get your hopes up, it might be even worse than here," Jean retorted.
"Nothing can be worse than here with this heat," Pieck sighed, looking blase.
Armin, who hadn't spoken until then, said, "Okay, and when do we leave and how do we get there?"
"They said they're going to send vehicles that will arrive tomorrow," Muller specified.
The next day, they were all waiting at the meeting place: Reiner, Pieck, Connie, Jean, and a bit further away, Annie. Armin, who hadn't expected her to come, walked over.
"Hi Annie, I didn't know you were coming, I thought you wanted to stay quiet with your father."
"Well, my father advised me to go with you, plus I can't stand this place anymore so a little trip wouldn't hurt," Annie said in her usual detached tone.
"Okay, that's good," Armin replied, then turned to leave, but Annie called out to him immediately:
"Armin?"
"Yes," he turned back.
"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked in a neutral tone, though deep down she was genuinely worried.
"Yes, very well," he said.
"Okay, and now answer me without lying," she said, looking at him skeptically.
Armin was surprised at first, then sighed:
"After everything that's happened, I'm not necessarily the happiest man in the world, but I'm doing fine, don't worry."
"I wasn't worrying," Annie said, perfectly serious.
"Ah... okay," Armin answered.
Then Annie walked past him to join the others as the cars had arrived, and he followed her a few seconds later.
After a 5-hour drive, they finally arrived in Valdheim. It was a large city with tall buildings, a port, and numerous markets. They stopped in front of a grand palace, and a soldier came to greet them:
"Welcome, heroes who stopped the Rumbling and to whom we owe our lives. I will show you to your rooms, and you will meet the chancellor tomorrow."
"Thank you for your welcome and your hospitality," Armin simply replied.
Then the man led them to their rooms. They were double rooms: one for Annie and Pieck, one for Connie and Jean, and Reiner and Armin were together.
"Finally, a real bed! Seriously, look at this room!!" Connie said.
"Yeah, we're finally going to get a good night's sleep," Jean replied.
The guard also brought them new clothes—suits, pajamas, and so on.
The next day, everyone got ready and they met in the common lounge. The boys were all wearing suits, then Pieck arrived, and finally Annie. She was dressed in a mid-length skirt with a black jacket and a white shirt, and she had lightly styled her hair after Pieck insisted, of course. When she arrived, everyone turned their heads toward her; they had never seen her in anything other than a sweatshirt and jeans, and right there, she looked genuinely stunning.
Then, when she saw everyone staring at her, she sighed:
"What's wrong with you guys?"
Everyone immediately looked away except for Connie, who said:
"It's just that you look different."
"What do you mean, 'different'?" Annie replied, slightly annoyed.
Then Jean kicked Connie under the table to shut him up, and Connie raised his hands, saying, "No, nothing, forget it."
Armin hadn't said anything, but he looked at her perhaps a second too long when she came to sit in the chair next to him.
*Seriously, she was already pretty, but right now I've never seen anything like this.*
Annie noticed his gaze.
"What?" she said, looking at him.
Armin immediately looked away.
"Nothing, I was just thinking, that's all."
"Mhm," Annie replied suspiciously.