Armin's head aches from staring at endless documents and mission reports, from the late hour and lack of sleep and simply from thinking at this point. His tired eyes flicker to the candle that's about to burn out, and sure enough, the flame dies, a small string of smoke wisping into the air. He sighs heavily, slumping against the back of his chair and stretching his back out before letting out a groan of relief when his stiff shoulders crack.

Armin understood being Commander would be hard, that he'd have to make tough decisions and choices that those around him might not like. He watched Erwin run himself into the ground more than once, and still the Commander carried on like the weight of soldiers' lives weren’t in the balance of his decisions.

And in stark comparison, Armin is nothing like Erwin. He's gentle of heart, and cares deeply about the opinions of his companions, the last thing he wants is to upset them. Or worse, cost them their lives. Which is causing the seed of crippling self-doubt to sow. 'Commanding' isn't a word Armin or anyone else would associate with his name, maybe Commander Erwin was really the one that should have been saved.

The sound of the door to his study opening makes Armin jolt, and he glances behind him with wide eyes. They only soften because he finds you there in the doorway, a smile almost touching his lips. “I… I haven’t been sat here in the dark, I swear.”