#robin!armin

Armin was correct in assuming that Annie was just buying a quick pick-me-up whilst underneath the mask of her Spoiler costume. He could see her paying for a pre-made sandwich through his binoculars, the shop’s clerk looking both amused and frightened to see a vigilante purchasing food from his store. Annie was someone who was fully capable of flipping a man half her size over her head, whether she was going by Spoiler or not, but surely, she wouldn’t harm an innocent store owner. Would she? 

But whether she harmed the store owner or not, Armin decided to utilize this opportunity to speak to her. When Annie exited the shop, sandwich in hand, she did what all vigilantes of Gotham did and disappeared into the shadows of the alleyways. 

But Armin had been Robin long enough to know how alleyways worked. Moving over the roof tops, Armin could only hope to intercept her in a matter that wouldn’t end with her accidentally punching him in surprise. 

He moved swiftly like his namesake, and landed on the roof that he had a good feeling that Annie would be on; and when Armin Arlert had a good feeling, he was usually right about it. 

As usual, he was. Annie seemed to be sitting calmly on the edge, legs dangling out above the skyline of Gotham, and her mask rolled up just enough to expose her mouth in order for her to be able to eat her sandwich. 

“Looking classy, Annie,” Armin chose to greet. 

Annie turned her head. In all honesty, she wasn’t too surprised, but at the very least, she seemed a little bit startled to see him. “Says the boy wearing red undies over his tights.” 

Armin chuckled and sat down beside her, “Boy Wonder tradition, you gotta dress ridiculously to get the job.” 

“Really? I thought you just had to get interviewed by the Bat before putting on that mask,” Annie commented between a bite of her sandwich. Wordlessly, she lifted up the second half of her sandwich and held it out to Armin. 

“At least my mask allows me to eat better than yours does,” Armin commented just as he grabbed the slices of turkey placed between two pieces of bread. “And thanks.” 

“No problem, I hate mayo anyway,” Annie claimed.

The next few moments were without words, and only the sound of the Gotham City streets occupying the space. Throughout the moments, Armin found himself glancing towards Annie while she ate in silence. He could see her blonde hair just slightly sticking out from the bottom edges of her masks, and he swore, he could see her piercing lizard-green eyes from behind the eyeholes of her mask. Just slightly, though. 

Eventually, Armin was taken out of his thoughts when Annie spoke up. 

“How’ve you and the Bat been lately?” she asked when she had finished her half of the sandwich. 

Armin swallowed his bite, “Same as always, I guess. Solving crimes, punching bad guys, and…”

“Jumping around the city dressed as winged animals?” she guessed, pulling down her mask over her mouth once more.

Armin chuckled, “Yep, pretty much. Is that why you’re Spoiler? Because you don’t like dressing as animals?” 

“You know my deal with my name,” Annie reminded. “Spoiler of crimes? Get it?” 

Again, Armin had to at least snicker, “Yes, I get it. I got it the first time you explained it to me.” 

“I don’t think I could ever become a full-time bat though,” Annie brought up, looking off into the skyline. “Mainly because the big bat isn’t gonna let me…”

Armin rolled his eyes, “Batman’s pretty strict, but if it makes you feel better, I don’t think I’ll ever have Bat in my title either.” 

Annie raised an eyebrow underneath her mask, “Explain.” 

Being as honest as possible, Armin shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t wanna ever become Batman, that’s it.” 

Annie actually seemed surprised, “Really? Wait, is that a requirement of being a full time Bat-member, or…”

He shook his head, “No, it’s not. But it’s a bit of a…” Suddenly, Armin hesitated to speak. He could’ve been as honest with Annie as he could and told her everything. Erwin couldn’t be Batman forever, Levi spent a good amount of his life trying to not be Batman, and Jean… was currently dead. Someone had to be Batman when Erwin ultimately could not, and every time Erwin remarked to Armin that he was an immensely amazing detective, or an excellent sidekick on a number of occasions, Armin knew what Erwin was implying whenever he did so. Erwin knew that Armin could easily take his place as The World’s Greatest Detective, and definitely, as the Dark Knight. 

But Armin didn’t want that. 

Growing up in Gotham, Armin  didn’t dream of putting on the Batsuit, or driving in the Batmobile. He dreamt of putting on the Robin suit, and moving across the rooftops like the acrobatic amazement that the Boy Wonder was. 

Armin was living that dream right now, and he could never wish for anything more.

But living in that dream, Armin had made a sacred vow, with secrets placed in his possession that he swore to keep forever. And if he wanted to keep living his dream, and keep that vow alive, he couldn’t tell Annie any of this. She had to stay in the dark about the Bat-Family’s inner workings… for now. 

“… long story,” Armin finally finished. 

That explanation seemed to work, as Annie nodded her head in response, “Ah, got it.” 

“You know, you may not wanna be Batman, but if it was my choice, I’d totally be Batgirl,” Annie randomly brought up. “I mean, I know there’s that other Batgirl around, she’s cool, but hey, if she ever wants to take a break one day, I wouldn’t mind if she called me up to watch over the city.” 

Armin nodded his head, “I’ll be sure to remind her of that.” Armin had faith in Mikasa’s skill as Batgirl, as did Petra, the one who originally put on the suit. But perhaps, with a bit of training here and there, Annie could make a good Batgirl in her own right. Armin reminded himself to at least mention the idea to Mikasa if she ever did need a break, or to Petra, or maybe even Erwin. 

Armin finished eating his sandwich, and just as he did, he could feel a device on his belt vibrating. If it wasn’t his communicator, then it was his police radio, and when Armin reached in and brought it out, he found out that it was the latter. Reading the text on the radio’s screen, the oh-so peaceful night was brought back into the ultimate reality that was the streets of Gotham City. 

“Uh oh,” Armin said, standing up. 

Annie followed his suit, “What is it?” 

“Thugs near the docks,” Armin recited from the screen. “They may be working for Rod Reiss.” 

“Rod Reiss?” Annie questioned. “The crime boss?” 

“Yeah, him,” Armin said, putting his radio back and grabbing his grappling gun. “He’s a bit gutless, but the thugs he hires aren’t.” 

“Sounds rough and dangerous,” Annie observed as she grabbed her own grappling gun. “I can handle this.”

Armin was amused, “Coming along, I see.”