Slippery Situations
It dawned on him that him and Eren became friends in Erens' eyes. Eren would always come up to the house and get Armins attention while he was cleaning. Armin would invite Eren in while he was finishing up and Eren would try to help but he just couldn't quite get things to look how they were supposed to look in Armins' eyes, so mainly he would sit down in a chair and talk about what they could do after Armin was done. Erens favorite place to go was the fields just out side the gate where he normally would get sticks and logs for his Mother, Carla.
"Where do you want to go today?" Eren asked once Armin hung up his apron.
"I never really thought about it, I enjoy going to the fields with you."
"Okay, but if you could go anywhere in town where would it be? You always go where I want to go, today it's your turn to choose."
"Well, um if I could go anywhere maybe the little spring that flows just right outside the walls ?" Armin said as he slipped his light blue jacket on and put his shoes on. He quickly glanced over to Eren to make sure his idea wasn't going to bore him.
'Well Armin does always follow me around, I can do what he wants to for a change' Eren thought.
"Okay Armin, lead the way." Eren replied, smiling like a dork.
"Okay then I guess follow me?"
Even though Eren told Armin to lead the way they walked side by side Eren slightly leading the way. Armin was just to anxious to lead like Eren does. He couldn't just grab his hand and start sprinting to the spring for one he doesn't have enough stamina for that and he wouldn't feel comfortable with it...
So they walked with one another, Eren talking about his mom and how he scared her the other morning bu hiding in the drying sheets. Eren really just wanted Armin to laugh more, he is so quite normally.
Armin could see the spring glittery from the sunlight hitting it and immediately was excited. So much so he actually sped up to get there first. When they reached it, Armin sat by the bank and just watched the water flow by occasionally sticking his hand in and letting the water trail over his hand, enjoying the cool water.
Eren watched as Armin as he looked at the water. He wanted to get up and play a game but he wasn't sure what they could do so he just walked up and sat next to him. he noticed a frog in the water and was instantly full of energy. He was looking around and noticed a trunk of a tree was in the water and so he walked over to see if he could capture the frog.
He successfully was able to stand on the log and maneuver it to get closer to the frog but as he was about to grab the frog, it jumped farther away and Eren heard Armin giggle at his failed first attempt. Now Eren was determined to capture the frog. So he very carefully went to the edge of the log and bent down onto his knees and stretched his arms out to grab it. He was able to grab it but he jumped up to quickly and slipped from the log and into the cold water...
'Great now I have fallen twice in front of Armin.' Eren thought to him self. The only thing keeping his spirits up after that fail was the fact he still had the frog and he got Armin to laugh so hard he rolled over. Eren picked himself up and walked over to Armin and showed him the frog.
When Eren had walked over Armin got to see the frog and he went to stroke its back and as he did the frog jumped back into the water and swam away.
"I'm sorry Eren, I didn't mean to scare it, I know how hard you tried to catch it." Armin said with laughter in his voice.
"It's fine Armin, it was bound to jump away eventually."
They continued to sit and watch the water in silence, that was until Eren started sneezing.
" Oh Eren , we need to get you home and into dry clothes now before you get sick!"
"If you say so Armin."
Eren got up and walked with Armin to head home and get dry clothes.
"Hey Armin after I get changed do you think we can go by the big tree in the field?"
"Yes, Sure once you get into dry clothes."
They continued to walk home and Eren invited Armin in when they got to his house. While Eren was getting changed in his room Carla came over to Armin;
"Would you like to sit with me?"
"Yes, thank you Ma'am."
"Don't say that it makes me sound old." Carla said with a light laugh "call me Carla instead, and don't worry about Eren so much he has a strong constitution and rarely gets sick."
"Oh okay, thank you Ma'a- Carla."
As Eren was walking out his father, Grisha, busted open the door,
"ERE- oh good your already dressed. Okay today son you're coming with me on a house call to the Ackermans."
"But dad, Armin and I were going to-"
"No buts Eren.You're coming outside the walls with me today"
Armin felt awkward being talked about while he was in the room...
"Oh Eren thats fine I still have some chores left to do at the house so I can just head home now and finish them up before my grandfather returns."
"Here sweetie I'll walk you home." Carla Added
"See Eren it's fine. Now come on shoes, scarf and jacket we might its a bit chilly up on the mountains.
Eren grumbled but did as he was told, He went up and said his goodbye to Armin and kissed him mom goodbye. Him and his father got in the wagon and Armin and Carla began walking to Armins home.
Armin and Carla talked about little things like the flowers and what Eren and Armin normally do while they go and play.
"Armin, Sweetie I don't want to pry or make you uncomfortable but, where are your parents?" Carla asked when they reached his house, she noticed it was only Armin at home.
"I don't know..."
Carla felt a wave of sadness at the thought of a little boy, especially one as sweet as Armin growing up without a mother or father and she couldn't help it, she reached out and hugged the little boy.
"Well you're always more than welcome at my house anyitme Armin."