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[Levi had been in this place for an hour or two, reading the pamphlet he was given at the very beginning and testing the strange device he had been given. He's not panicking. It's not like he was kidnapped or eaten by titans. He was simply returning back inside the walls when he woke up here.

However, he is rather annoyed. He didn't have time to be here. There were things he needed to do back at home. After that battle they needed to regroup and be prepared to what's to come. So why was here? It really pissed him off not to be able to do anything about it.

He had to keep going for the sake of those who had fallen. There was no time to find yourself in a place like this.

Levi finally decided to take contact with the device given to him. There wasn't much emotion on his face, even if his eyes told another story. He was wearing his usual survey corps clothes, but he didn't have his 3D gear with him. On top of that, he was injured, but that didn't show on the outside.]

This situation is fucking idiotic. I don't care a shit about where we are or what we need to do here. Frankly, I don't even care why the fuck we're here.

[Well, good day to you too, sir.]

Once someone figures our a way to get the fuck out of here, I would like to know. My name is Levi.

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[Armin hesitantly drops the salute, though he remains standing mostly at attention. There's deep relief in his eyes when he sees Levi's not angry with him anymore, though there's still recrimination and sadness there too.]

It... it's okay, s-sir. There was no w-way you could have known. I... [He bites his lip and looks down, trying not to cry in front of a superior officer. Petra's death was one shock too many, and he's still coming to terms with how to deal with it when she's just in the other room.] I didn't k-know about Petra.

[The whole time mix up was really peculiar. Levi could only accept it and live with it. Who knew what would happen if or when new people from their world would appear. Would there be more moments like this?]

I'm aware of that now. You should have found out about it some other way.

[Well, whichever way it Armin would have found out, it wouldn't have been very easy to hear. Still, it could have gone a bit better.]

What memories do you have from home?

[He nods mutely. It was unfortunately how the situation turned out - but he can't blame anyone else for the way they'd acted.]

My last memory of home was the battle of Trost, sir. Mikasa and I had just climbed the wall, trying to get Eren across without being noticed.

[Trost. The battle that revealed Eren's powers. So Armin wasn't that far off from where Levi's memories reach... well, even if it felt like it had been forever since that battle happened.]

Are those bruises from said battle?

[Armin bites his lip, then shakes his head. This was going to be... complicated.]

No, sir. After leaving Trost... this was not the f-first reality I was sent to.

Over the course of the past year, I've been sent to at l-least a dozen different worlds. There was always something we were meant to do, and each world h-had their own dangers. Just before waking up here...

[He takes a deep breath, trying to steel himself.] I w-was strangled to d-death, sir.

[Levi listened to what Armin said and if he hadn't already talked with a lot of different people and heard different stories, he might have a hard time actually believing.

Armin really had gone through a lot. Their world wasn't easy to live in either...]

Have you seen a doctor yet?

N-no, sir. It's not... it hurts, but it d-doesn't appear to be dangerous anymore. [And he imagines there's probably not too much a doctor can do about the bruising.

Armin had had a hard time at first too - especially with nobody from home with him except Eren. Levi and Erwin had shown up later, of course - but Eren had disappeared around the same time. Still, he'd been forced to adapt quickly.]

That's good, then.

[Levi did believe Armin was stronger than he looked. To get through the training to become a member of the Survey Corps is not easy, after all. It's a very rough path.]

If you need to talk, I'm available.

[It's not like he wanted to listen to all his subordinates' worries, but... well, hearing experiences from other worlds might come in handy. That, and he did owe Armin that much.

... and well, he does care about people under his command, even if it doesn't usually show.]

Th-thank you, sir. [It's not that he believes Levi doesn't care, but... he hates showing weakness in front of anyone. In front of a superior would be far worse. It means a lot that Levi's willing to offer - but if Levi wants to hear about other worlds, he might have to ask directly.

Meanwhile, Armin notices something that's a little off.] Captain L-Levi, sir... if you don't mind me asking, did you already t-take your maneuver gear off? Or d-did you arrive without it? [Levi without access to 3dmg is more disturbing to Armin than he might have believed.]

[The comment about the gears has Levi look a bit... well, a bit annoyed. It was an inconvenience to arrive without it, to be annoyed.]

I arrived without them. We had just finished a mission and returned.

[Armin had suspected as much. In which case...]

Then you should t-take mine, sir.

[No hesitation there. It only made sense.]

[It's true it would have been more convenient for him to take them and he would definitely have a use for them...]

You do realize you might need them as well.

[It doesn't faze Armin in the slightest, and he looks more certain than Levi's ever seen him.]

I barely passed the physical examination, sir. You're humanity's strongest soldier. In most scenarios, even I would be safer if you take my gear - and there's no question who we'll regret not having gear more, if it comes to a fight.

[All simple facts, even if Levi's indifferent to the title of humanity's strongest soldier.]

Then I will accept your offer, Arlert.

[Armin nods, apparently not very bothered despite the fact he just gave up his only weapon. With Eren, Mikasa, and Levi by his side, what foe would he ever need to fear?]

Yes, sir. They're in the closet, whenever you want to pick them up. I just cleaned and maintenanced them two days ago - [Something to do to distract himself, mostly. But since he's been traveling with Levi for the past half a year, even if this version doesn't remember, his 3dmg will be up to Levi's standards.] - and the tanks are about three quarters full. I haven't seen where to go to refill the tanks here - but Mikasa can show you when it becomes necessary.

[Mikasa, huh. Levi had a feeling he should leave her be for now, so he makes no comment on the girl. After all, Petra already showed him on their way there.]

I'd like to see the gear.

Yes, sir.

[He nods again, then makes his way to the closet, carefully lifting them out. There are new chinks in the gear, and the straps are a little worn, defnitely more worn than usual for someone Armin's age - after all, he's been wearing them constantly for more than a year now. There are only five blades left, and two are worn and chipped.

But they've been carefully and painstakingly taken care of, and the gear is spotlessly clean. Just as carefully, he sets them down for Levi's inspection.]

[Levi carefully inspects the gear once they're in front of him. The further he checks the gear the more impressed he is over how well they have been taken care off. Armin really had taken good care of them, even if they had been worn a lot.]

You have done a very good job on the maintenance. I'm impressed.

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