Anna Wayne

All of this in one day (the biggest attack occured at night).

russians hitting important cultural buildings is nothing new, they destroyed countless of churches and museums, but this night feels like they were targeting specifically everything significant to ukrainian culture and identity. And after that they and their supporters dare to say "where's your culture? you have none".

Art and culture is NEVER out of politics. THIS is why we're so mad when westerners keep praising anything related to russian culture itself. While people are praising their culture, russians are actively stealing and destroying ours.

Chapter 14

"I miss you even when you're here," Armin whispered softly, rubbing his face against the other's neck. "I'm borrowing longing from the future. It's stupid..."

Wow, guys- the big 5- 0. Thanks for sticking me with this long! This is a satisfying point in the story to hit 50 chapters, I think, because it’ll be a bit of turning point 👀 Read here, and check out the excerpt below.

He sucked in a breath. “This last memory… I got to see some of them up close. Up until now, it’s just been brief images, and occasionally conversations between him and his father. But tonight I saw… Reiner and Annie.”

Hange sipped her tea noisily, eyeing him to bid him continue.

He took in a few steadying breaths, looking down at his hands and the slight ripples in his tea cup. He felt his face frowning before he knew it.

“Annie’s father, he… they were running a foot race… I imagine it was part of their training. Bertholdt was excited to win the race and run into his dad’s waiting arms. But Annie’s father…” He started.

He was seething again, he knew it, but he couldn’t stop himself. He bit his lip, trying not to tear up again, but ultimately failing. “I always knew, somehow… that her father wasn’t a kind man… that he had never… touched her with warmth or affection.” He started.

Here's a snippet:

“Annie,” he said. “You should have put on a coat. It’s freezing.”

She rolled her eyes. “And here I am, delivering you food, and the first thing you do is reprimand me.”

Armin smiled and stepped forward, his warm arms coming around her as he pressed his mouth against hers. It was a sweet, brief thing, but it made her lips tingle.

“Thank you,” he said. “I just don’t want you to get cold.”

Y’all wouldn’t mind if I just kept throwing new chapters at you, would you? 😅 Read here, and catch a preview below.

Armin was in the middle of reading some of his report to her out loud and catching a mistake he’d made when the door opened as someone else entered.

“Oh, I thought that-“ Hitch’s voice intoned, and she sounded momentarily confused.

“Wait,” she started after trailing off, “Armin, that is you?”

This caused Annie to pause- at no other moment had Hitch ever struggled to recognize Armin when she’d walked in. From what she could tell, there was plenty of light.

Annie would blush if she was able at the stammering sound of Armin’s flustered voice- why he always managed to get so worked up on her behalf would never fail to amuse her as much as it made her stomach flip.

“Yeah, sorry, I know I didn’t check in again and it’s been a few weeks. I’m really not trying to come and go from Stohess without you knowing.” He defended, sounding sheepish.

“Shut up- it’s not that.” Hitch said, her footsteps drawing closer.

There’s a stillness, and Annie found herself momentarily frustrated that no one was speaking to dispel her confusion.

“I mean… damn Armin, you actually have a jawline… I didn’t know! And ears? First time I’ve ever seen those, too.” Hitch said, drawing her words out to tease him.

“Yeah,” Armin acquiesced, his voice lower, “I cut it myself… does it look bad?”

His hair, Annie realized, finally understanding.

“No it- I mean…” Hitch stammered, and it was the first time Annie had ever heard her stumble over words. “I mean.. you look good. It suits you really well.” She finished.

Despite all logic and to her chagrin, Annie felt her heart beating a little faster in her chest.

Chapter 13

Read here.

Here's a snippet:

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey,” he said. “Sorry. I was just reading through something. I won’t be long.”

“That’s fine,” she said. Then, after a moment, she asked, “Would you like some company?”

His eyebrows rose, but it was only for a moment. Then, he nodded and gestured to the chair right beside him.

‘’So… You wanna try again?’’

Annie took a full deep breath maybe for the first time since they arrived. The look on this man’s face was inviting, in a reassuring way. His round brown eyes reflected a glimpse of faith. It nearly put a smile on her face. They took off to the other end of the salon and found the first machine they played with, for luck. It didn’t make sense, none of this did. If loss was inevitable, what could be the excuse not to try? They took the exact same position, with him kneeling beside her, and Annie putting the increased cash with the same right hand. She took a breath, rolled her shoulders, and eyed the drink in Ryan’s hand that was almost all melted ice now. She asked for a sip.

Here's a snippet:

“Hey,” said Porco. His eyebrows furrowed. “Sorry. Is this a bad time?”

She hesitated. Was there ever a good time for Porco Galliard to show up at her apartment, entirely unannounced?

Chapter 13

I also love this chapter, so I hope you'll enjoy it, too <3