Chapter Text
A deep sigh escaped Armin’s pale lips, tapping the ball of his pen on the blank page in front of him, a casual frown on his lips. He kicked back from his desk, rolling along the wood floor a short distance and was stopped by his bed. He subconsciously ran his thumb along the plastic cover of the pen as he lost himself in his thoughts. What time is it? He glanced over to the clock on his bedside table. The glowing, green numbers read, 11:14.
“Four hours and still nothing,” he grumbled, a groan resonating from his throat as he stood and walking over to the window before he tugged at the latch and pulled, trying to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. “Why do I have to be so weak?” His mind suddenly flashed to what Eren said, “…had I not gotten there, those guys would have left without a mark.”
“Damn,” he cursed, leaning against the window sill, he glance out and stared out at the neighborhood, illuminated by street lights. Armin then closed the blinds and walked over to a mirror in the room before he removed his shirt and eyed his upper body. Skinny, noodle-like arms, slim waist, flat stomach and chest, and bony hips. He would have completely been fine with this shape had he been been born a girl, besides the flat chest. Not to mention he was short for a guy, 5’4 was his height. Armin absolutely hated his height and figure. He wanted to be strong, tall, and broad, like- like…
I wonder how defined Eren’s chest is. Probably well-muscled, not to mention how tan he is… Armin blushed at the thought of the other male and sat on the bed, burying his heated face into his hands. “How could I think something like that? How embarrassing.”
“Armin?”
His head jerked up and away from his hands and his blue eyes met Mikasa’s.
“Is everything alright? Why is your shirt off?”
Armin looked down, staring to the floor, face flushed. “I was just checking my bruises, they’ve been bothering me all day,” it wasn’t a complete lie, in fact they did sting now that he thought of them.
“Oh, are they alright?” She stepped into his room. “Do you want me to check on them?”
“No, no, that’s okay. I’ll be alright, thank you, though, Mikasa.” As he slid his shirt back on, she sat next to him. He could feel her dark eyes burning into him, revealing all the fears and troubles he kept inside. She was always good at reading him.
“Are you sure everything’s fine? You looked upset when I walked in. Did something happen today with that Eren guy?”
He immediately looked to her with surprise. “Wait, how’d you know about that? Weren’t you in class?”
The raven-haired female sighed. “Marco and Jean told me- or, it was more who, who said that they’d dropped you off at the table he was sitting at.”
Armin groaned and his face was, once again, buried in his hands. “To answer your question, no, it’s nothing about Eren, in fact it’s nothing at all. Nothing’s wrong.”
¨Armin, I don’t like it when you lie to me. Whats going on with you?¨
The blond ran a hand through his hair, a huff escaping him. The room fell utterly silent, Armin not wanting to answer and Mikasa awaiting one.
Mikasa was about to say something when a white head poked in. “Hey, I’m heading to bed. You guys should think about doing the same.” It was Armin’s grandfather. “Is everything alright? You two aren’t fighting again, are you?”
“No,” Mikasa quickly said before standing. “I’m going to head to bed also.” Armin’s grandfather nodded before heading off to his room. Mikasa was also about to scurry out before Armin stopped her.
“Wait, Mikasa?” She stopped and turned to him. “Do you think I’m… Weak?”
A frown noticeably found it’s way to her features. She walked back over to Armin and took his hands. “Strength isn’t physical, Armin. Of course media these days make it sound as if the only strength is be muscular, however you have true strength. That mind of your is brilliant and could probably get out of anything. You are not weak, never think that, alright?”
The blonde watched her, baffled by her words. He then quickly nodded. “Th-Thank you, Mikasa. I really needed that.”
She nodded before she stood again, releasing his hands. “Now, get to bed. Good night, Armin.”
He murmured a, “good night,” and watched her leave. He then rolled his chair over to his desk before he plopped back down onto the rolly-chair. His mind was still a bit foggy, yet he still didn’t understand why. All he could think about was Eren’s words, telling him how weak he was without hesitation, and it hurt. It hurt to feel like he was being looked down upon and obviously pitied by a guy he hardly even knew. Not only did he not know this guy, but this guy was also the person who saved him from further harm than what was already inflicted.
He just had to do this short essay, that was all. I just need to clear my head; come on, Armin, just concentrate. He slowly took a breath before he let it out and looked to the paper determination coating his blue eyes and his blond brows furrowing. Armin began writing, mind settling. Her refused to lose track of what he wanted. Harvard.
He would not get carried away.
“Armin?” A voice inquired softly, a nudge to his ribs making him shoot up in surprise from the sudden pain. He looked up to see Connie, holding his hands up in defense, with slight apologetic features and a hint of amusement.
“Connie?” Armin mumbled, rubbing his eyes. When did he fall asleep?
“Dude, I need the assignment.”
A brow was quickly raised on Armin’s part. “You didn’t finish the French essay last night, did you?”
A groan of frustration emitted from Connie’s lips and he ran a hand along his shaved head as if there were hair he could still run it through as a nervous habit. “Back off, man; I forgot, that’s all!”
Armin held back a scoff as he spoke, mild amusement transferred from Connie’s features to Armin’s own, “what happen to the assignment planner I made you?”
“Lost it.”
“Why didn’t you jot it down on a sticky note or a blank sheet of paper?” He pressed on, stubbornly, though he still passed him the assignment.
“I don’t know, I relied on my memory,” he took the sheet thankfully and read through it. He then began writing it down. “So,” Connie began. “What’s got you suddenly becoming sleeping beauty?”
Armin frowned from the name before he sighed. There was no way he was going to tell him it was because of Eren. No way. The Connie would go on, telling him how he liked Eren and tease him about marrying him. That was Connie for you, then when he unites with Sasha, it’s usually a nightmare- when it comes to Jean, mostly.
I had trouble finishing the assignment , that’s all.”
Connie stopped writing and looked up to Armin with wide, bewildered eyes. “No way, you had trouble finishing an assignment? That has to be a first, Armin. I mean- holy carp… That must have been some assignment.”
Armin rolled his eyes. “You’re over exaggerating, Connie, and it wasn’t the assignment itself, I just had a lot on my mind last night. I couldn’t concentrate.”
Immediately, a wolfish smirk wormed its way onto Connie’s lips, “no way, does our dear, sweet, innocent Armin have a crush? Come one, what’s the guys name?” The reason Connie instantly jumped to the conclusion it was a guy was because Armin came out and admitted he was into guys his sophomore year. His friends had taken it fine, especially since most of his friends were weren't straight either. His grandfather, on the other hand, immediately jumped to the conclusion that, “the media now-a-days confuses the mind” and told him, “don’t get caught up with that group.” Armin never brought it up again.
The blonde blushed furiously and huffed. “Connie, don’t be ridiculous! I’m not crushing on anyone--!”
A book was slammed onto Connie’s desk, making the two jump and look up quickly. The French teacher gave the two a look of warning. “Is there a problem?
“Non, non, monsieur,” Armin spoke up quickly.
“Ye-yeah, Mr. Levi, there’s no problem-” Connie insisted, both mortified of getting on this teacher’s bad side.
“I suggest you address me in French, brat.”
“Oui, monsieur!”
The short male eyed them before letting out a tch. “Pay attention.” He was about to walk away before he looked over their heads and scowled. “What now, Erwin? Don’t tell me you’re giving me another brat!”
A soft chuckle came from the door and Armin looked back to see principle Smith.
“Rivialle-”
“Monsieur Levi to you,” Levi huffed.
A small smirk formed on Erwin’s face. “-you will have a new student. You can enter, Mr. Jaeger.”
Armin looked away and back to his French textbook, uninterested. It was just another student for Levi to yell at when he was angry. In fact, he could already hear a growl from Levi, whether it was aimed toward Erwin or the new kid, Armin didn’t know.
From the corner of his eye, Armin watched Levi walk past him and smack his hand down onto the empty desk next to his own, making him wince. “Sit here, Jaeger,” he spat the name. Armin could only imagine how frightened the poor guy must have felt.
As Levi went over to Mr. Smith, Armin hears a shuffling of the desk next to him.
“Mr. Levi’s pretty harsh, huh?”
Oh no, that voice. Armin quickly whipped around, coming face to face with Eren. Of course he was Jaeger. Of course Levi would seat him next to Armin. He just wants to get back at me for finding out about him and Mr. Smith. A year back, Armin had stopped by the French class to ask Levi about an assignment and saw Mr. Smith leaning in to kiss the French teacher. Armin was sworn to secrecy, but he was sure Levi could make his life a living hell had he- if he were to- tell/told. Then again, Levi didn’t even know that Armin had been avoiding this particular male. Yet, Armin wasn’t even sure about the reason for that, either.
“Yeah, strangely you get use to it… maybe. Some people were better at handling his mood than other’s.”
Eren chuckled before he grinned to the other. “So, who would’a thought you’d be in this class, huh?”
“Why’d you transfer to this class anyways?”
The brunette’s grin was quick to falter before he looked down with a huff. “Well, I was in Spanish class, but,” he paused for a moment. “But I got into a fight with that Jean guy and I was instantly the one responsible for getting into a fight, so the teacher kicked me out of the class, saying how he, “would not allow students to start fights,” and he, “will not tolerate violent students in his class”...”
Armin blinked in surprise before he cracked a smile. “I hope you realize that if you start any fights in monsieur Levi’s class, then he’ll whoop your butt from here to France in seconds.”
Connie clearly figured he’d join and try to scare the new kid, considering he leaned over Armin’s desk with a devious glint in his amber eyes. “Yeah, you’re pretty unlucky to have come to this class, kid,” Armin noticed Eren frowned at that, “Mr. Levi will use your ass as a punching bag if you piss him off or if he’s having a bad day and he decides he doesn’t like you,” it was Armin’s turn to frown from the foul language.
A bead of sweat ran down Eren’s face, making Armin’s frown increase. Connie was intentionally trying to scare Ereen using Levi’s intimidating aura. The blond also noted how Eren fidgeted nervously.
“He’s not actually that bad,” Armin said, making Connie pout. “Connie’s just trying to freak you out for who-knows-what reason, so don’t listen to him.” Eren’s eyes immediately shot to Connie with irritation, though the bald male merely dismissed it.
“So, how do you know Armin?”
Eren blinked before he shrugged. “Beat some dicks who were picking on him.”
Connie’s eyes immediately lit up in awe. “So, you’re the guy everybody’s talking about! Eren, right?” With a nod, confirming that was, in fact, his name, Connie continued. “Thanks for saving the rascal, I keep telling him to get a bodyguard, or take some self defense courses, or even take a body building class, yet he doesn’t do any of it…”
Eren’s eyes immediately moved to Armin who shifted under his gaze nervously. “You know, it’s funny that you mention that,” Eren said. “Because he just agreed to letting me help him with his physical fitness.”
It was Connie’s turn to look straight to Armin with surprise. Armin then made the mistake of looking up to him and the second he caught sight of his smirk, he groaned and buried his face into his hands.
“Oh, really now?” Connie spoke slowly, his smirk was even obvious in his voice. “Lil’ Armin here agreed to that, huh? I wouldn't expect that from him.”
Eren looked at Connie quizzically before he turned his gaze to Armin, then back to Connie again. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could even utter a word, Levi’s voice rang out. “Oi, new brat, get over here, you need the assignments!”
The second Eren got up and walked over to the annoyed teacher, Connie scooted his desk closer to the embarrassed blond’s. “So, that’s the reason you were distracted last night, isn’t it, Armin?”
“Shut up, Connie,” he mumbled, voice muffled by his hands that continued to cover his heated face.
“You got a crush~,” Connie said in a sing-song voice.
“No, I don’t, Connie, stop.”
“You want to kiss him~.”
“Now you’re just messing with quotes from Miss Congeniality.”
“You wanna marry him~.”
“Oh my gosh, Connie, stop.” As much as Connie annoyed him, he couldn’t help but find it humorous that he knew his friend so well that he predicted it would come to the outcome. He also couldn’t deny not having Sasha here with Connie was a relief, though he was sure he’d get it later from her as a make-up. There was no way Connie wouldn’t tell her.
Get it he did. Connie and Sasha were hovering over him during lunch, smirking cheekily as they bombarded him with questions about Eren, how they met and trying to get him to admit he had a thing for the brunette, when he, in fact, didn’t.
“Come on, just admit it, you know you do.”
“No, I don’t,” Also, by this point, Armin was done yelling, stilling having an annoyed edge to his voice.
“Guys, you should back off,” Marco insisted from beside Armin. “Maybe he realized he just really needs help with his physical fitness.”
Armin’s head shot to the freckled male who smiled apologetically. “Thanks, Marco, that helps a bunch,” he spoke sarcastically.
“Sorry…”
“You have no reason to be,” Jean snarled viciously from the other side of Marco. “Armin, leave Marco alone. This sweet, innocent, adorable as hell face of his hasn’t done a thing. Connie, Sasha, you’re making it sound as if gay guys will only make friend with other guys if they want their hands down their pants. You’re insulting me.”
Marco’s face was completely red form all the compliments Jean made about his face and buried it into the dual-haired male’s neck affectionately. Armin, on the other hand, stared down at his lap for a moment before he glanced over to Sasha and Connie to see they were pouting as if they were in time-out.
“Wow,” a deep voice grumbled, chuckling. “Everyone has such long faces, well Jean always does, but-”
“Shut it, blondie!” Jean replied defensively.
Armin looked up to see Reiner and Bertolt. There was someone missing. “Where’s Annie?” Armin question with the slight tilt of his head.
“Well,” Reiner said. “She skipped Phys. Ed. so much during her freshman year that now she has to do make-ups with Coach Shardis during her lunch periods if she wants to graduate.”
Armin felt a pair of eyes on him the second the words, “Phys. Ed,” came from Reiner’s mouth and he immediately looked to a smirking Connie.
“Speaking of Physical Education-”
“Oh my God,” the blonde groaned, gripping at his hair. “I’m going to strangle you, Connie!”
Sasha and Connie began to burst out laughing, high-fiving. “Finally, we cracked ‘im,” Sasha exclaimed happily.
“Oh no,” Connie chuckled. “Not until he admits how he truly feels will I consider him to be, “cracked”.”
Bertolt looked between the two dorks, then to the infuriated blonde, nervous with the situation, as usual. “Um… Huh?”
“Don’t join this. They’re disrespecting us gays,” Jean huffed.
Reiner scoffed before looking to Armin. “So, what’s so special about Phys. Ed.?”
Armin buried his face into his hands, grumbling to himself when a voice spoke, “uh, Armin? Is everything alright?”
His head shot up and whipped to the direction of the voice of Eren.
“Well, speak of the devil,” Connie snickered. “Hey, Eren-.”
Armin wasn’t sure what came over him, but he took Eren’s hand and ran off away from Connie and Sasha, and away from the group, earning yells from them, obviously dumbfounded with his actions. The blonde could only imagine the incredulous look on Eren’s face. He’d even surprised himself, considering not even he knew why he’d chosen Eren to drag with him, maybe even his subconscious knew Connie and Sasha well enough that he knew they’d take the chance to embarrass Armin and start telling Eren that, “he liked him,” and, “he wanted to marry him.”
They soon stopped and Armin dropped Eren’s hand and bent over, placing his hands on his knees as he panted heavily. Eren, however, wasn’t tired in the slightest and just watched the blonde with a raised brow.
“Armin?”
He blushed embarrassedly and his bright, blue eyes looked up to the brunette. “Ye-Yeah. Eren?”
A sly grin slowly wormed onto his tan lips. “You’re a lot weaker than I thought.”
“Wait, what? You’re not even going to ask about why I’d run off? Not only that, but I dragged you with me.”
“Of course I’m going to,” Eren chuckled. “I just had to point that out before I lost it.”
Armin pouted before he sighed and stood straight. “Well, you can ask away, I guess.”
“What the hell?” Eren barked, making Armin flinch. “Why did you drag me here? What do you want with me?!... Was that good enough?”
Armin blinked before a small grin formed on his pale lips. “Wow, Eren. I seriously thought you were going to get angry with me.” He felt his pounding heart settle in his chest.
“Yeah, that was the point,” Eren smirked, proudly. “But seriously, we need to work on your fitness, that was sad to watch, Armin-”
“Yes, yes, I get it, I’m weak.” The pout on Armin’s face was beyond noticeable.
“Well, then lets start now.”