*First person pov*

"Hey!!" Eren yells to them as we run into the rib cage. "You guys alright!?" Eren shouts. "Eren! What is this!?" Armin yells. "No idea. But this thing's going to evaporate. Just like a titan corpse. We need to move!" Eren shouts as he walks forward in front of the titan skeleton, squinting through the smoke. "I don't know if they're gauging the situation or just dazed from shock, but the Garrison's not doing anything right now. However, they'll probably resume attacking before long. I don't have the confidence to negotiate with them after showing them this." Eren said as he turns back to us and looks at the titan skeleton. Eren grabs the key dangling from his neck. "But I did remember one thing. The basement. The basement of my home. My dad said I'd understand everything if I went there. He's also responsible for what I've become. If I get to the basement, I might just find out the truth about the titans as well." Eren said as he stared at the key. He suddenly punched a rib bone of the titan skeleton. "Dammit!! Why'd he hide it then!? Wasn't that the information the Scouts was looking for, even if it cost them thousands of lives!? Wasn't that mankind's hope!? And it was locked away in our basement all along!? What the hell was he thinking!? For that matter, where the hell is he?! He's left us on our own for five years now-" "Eren." Mikasa cuts Eren off. She puts a hand on Eren's shoulder. "We've got other matters to attend to right now." Mikasa said seriously as she walks out of the rib cage. "Yeah." Eren said and we followed her out, since the skeleton was about to collapse on us. We started discussing what we're going to do. "I'm... I'm going to get out of here." Eren announced. "Where are you going to go? And how?" I asked Eren, even though I already know. "To begin with, everywhere but here. Then I'll get over Wall Rose and head for the basement. After I transform into a titan, that is." Eren told us. "Can you really do that?" Armin asked Eren. "I'm not exactly sure how I'm doing this myself. But I think I can. It's like trying to explain how I move my arm. It just works. Before, all I thought about was protecting us from that cannonball. That explains why the skeleton's lack of durability and functions. I'll make a more powerful one this time. One that's fifteen meters tall, like when I beat the shit our of those titans." Eren said, but towards the end his nose starts bleeding. "Eren! Your nose is bleeding!" Mikasa pointed out. Eren reached up and wiped his nose, then pulled it back to see if it was true. I frown, there was still blood below his lip, smeared. I take out my handkerchief and wiped it off. Eren blushed but didn't say anything. I frowned again when I saw the blood tainted on my white handkerchief. That's going to leave a stain.... "Eren, you're really pale and you're breathing heavily. There's gotta be something wrong with your body." Armin said, observing his health. "He's right. You're sweating buckets, you're sick Eren." I said as I used the same handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face. Eren shoved my hand away. "I don't care how messed up I am right now. I've got two ideas. As long as you don't try to protect me, they'll let you three live. I've caused you loads of problems already, so I think I'll do things on my own from here." Eren announced. "No way... I-" "Eren." Mikasa cuts Armin off. "I'll come with you." Mikasa said. "Nope." Eren said, without a moment's hesitation. "If I'm not able to keep up with you, feel free to leave me behind. But at the same time, I'm free to ignore your orders as well." Mikasa argued. "I'm telling you to cut that out! I'm neither your little brother nor your kid!" Eren argues. "You sure do seem like it...." I mumble to myself. "I heard that!" Eren shouts as he pulls my ear. "Owowowowow!!" I yell as I tried to pry his hand off my ear. I anime cry as I rub my poor ear. I sighed as Eren and Mikasa continued to bicker. I look over at Armin, who was in deep thought. I hope that my presence here doesn't screw up anything..... what if Armin doesn't come up with that big argument? What if I get everybody killed? Or I get us all killed? Oh god oh god oh god!! "Eren, I-" "Wait Mikasa. I said I had two ideas, didn't I?" Eren cuts off Mikasa. Eren turns to Armin. "Armin. I'll leave it up to you to decide." Eren announced. "Huh?" Armin asked. "I'm well aware how impractical my first idea is. Using these titan powers of mine strategically. As part of the military, it would be the best way to go about it. I know this is a lot to ask, but if you say that you can convince the Garrison that I'm not a threat to mankind, then I'll trust your judgement. That is my second idea. If you say you can't do it, I'll fall back to my last resort, the plan I explained earlier. You have fifteen seconds to decide. Can you do it, or not? I'll trust your judgement either way." Eren told Armin. "Eren.... Why would you leave that decision up to me?" Armin asked Eren. "The worst situation, the better you are at making the right decisions. I want to rely on that ability of yours." Eren announced. "When did I ever..." Armin trailed off. "Lots of times. Like five years ago. If you hadn't gone to Hannes for help, both Mikasa and I would've been eaten alive by the titans." Eren said. I heard cracking behind me and Armin. I felt a huge shock wave on the ground as dust and wind flew past us harshly, dragging my hair but stopping at the root. Armin bends over, tears in his eyes. Tears of joy. I put a hand on his back. "We all trust you and your judgement." I said to him. He looks at me and nods. "We're running out of time, Armin." Eren pointed out, like it wasn't obvious before. Armin suddenly stands up. "I'll make sure they'll understand. You three, do everything you can to show them you bear no hostility." Armin commands. We nod, and Armin turns around and runs out of the smoke.