Chapter Text
'As of some on gently rapping, rapping at my chamber-' The blonde who had been walking down the stairs of the large house came to a halt, pausing his reading as he heard what sounded like a knock at his door, after a moment he brushed it off as his mind playing tricks on him because of the sentence he just read a moment ago. He put his foot out to take another step only to freeze again as the knocking got louder and more persistent. He couldn't help it as a small scowl slowly appeared onto his face and he slowly closed the book.
"Whoever this is better have a good reason for interrupting my reading.." his voice came through gritted teeth. Despite the frantic knocks on the door he took his time walking down the stairs, he walked over to the large oak door looking it up and down placing the book down on a small table by the door before pulling it open harshly with an unimpressed expression,
"Can I help yo-" Armin felt his whole body freeze up looking up at the figure in front of him. Right before his eyes stood none other than a man he had grown to loathe. Though this wasn't the man he knew- not at all, this man was shaking, almost on the ground from pain and fear, the man before him- if you could even called him that, more like a boy, so vulnerable and fragile looking. Definitely not like he'd ever seen before. It wasn't until after fully taking in his facial expression that Armin realised that wasn't the only odd thing. His eyelids hung heavy, his pupils dilated and he was clearly out of sorts. 'What the fuck are you feeling bad for- Have you lost your mind? You should be laughing in his face right now get a hold of yourself Armin.' Armin continued to stare at the younger yet larger male. He was clutching his side dangerously tight and Armin could almost feel the wince in the males expression. All though it wasn't until he looked behind that he noticed the trail of blood leading up the gateway to the steps of his home. He took a glance up and down the larger male when he noticed it, on the opposite side of his torso to the one he held was a large gash and hole in his shirt. Armin was about to speak when the other finally spoke up, or more like croaked out,
"I..I didn't know where.. where else to go.." the mans voice was barely above a whisper and before Armin knew it he had a lime Jean Kirstein, the town hero, passed out silently in his arms.
"Fucking bullshit.." he muttered before pulling the boys somewhat limp body through his house.
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It was evening when the brunette in front of Armin finally woke up. The Amber fire crackled before them and the warm tones of orange filled the room all around them as the only light came from the mantle piece. Armin sat on the floor poking the fire with the striker in silence. It wasn't until he heard a grunt that he knew the other was awake, "Morning princess," he teased slightly before putting his hands on his knees as he stood up walking behind him to the couch looking down at Jean who began trying to sit up and he quickly wrapped his hand over the others shoulder pushing him back down to the couch gently, "Woah there, I don't think so black bess." he turned to the small table beside where Jean laid and began pouring tea into a cup and carefully pushing the man upwards with his free hand before handing him the cup, "You aren't moving until that nasty scar of yours is healed. You seem to have a broken rib as well, I have things that can make it go back in place but you have to let it strengthen itself back up as well or else the bone will shatter completely." Armin was pouring himself another cup of tea as he spoke and sat down next to Jean quietly and looked at him. he wasn't speaking which was very unusual for the brunette because he never shut up otherwise. "Well? Aren't you going to tell me what happened then? I understand if you're-"
"It was Elijah.." Jean spoke for the first time since he woke up and his voice was quiet. the pain in his voice almost caused Armin the same pain, but that was when it dawned on him,
"Isn't Elijah like your boyfriend?" Armin spoke suddenly.
Jean replied just as quick this time through gritted teeth, the tone of his voice was much darker, "Ex. Boyfriend." He sighed gently again and leaned against the couch his head sat on the back of it as he stared up at the ceiling clearly distressed. "I don't even know what happened to be honest with you Hawthorne, I just- Came back home and there he was screaming and yelling- I.." Jean whined annoyedly and put his hands on either side of his head gripping his hair, "I don't even remember what he was talking about."
Armin was silent but then sighed knowing it would be best not to distress him, "Look- don't think about it too much, okay? Come on i'll help you to the bedroom"
Not much else was said between the two, Armin still didn't understand why he was helping him, the two of them were virtually enemies. Armin pulled jean up leaning his arm over his shoulder and began helping him up the tall, winding stair case the house was dark with not much lighting but that was the way Armin liked it, the only sources of light were small candelabras sparsely spread through out the house, and as Armin helped jean up the stairs he'd carefully blow out each one they walked past, "Aren't you going to put out the fire?"
Armin carefully shook his head, "It's charmed it can't grow anymore than that unless I tell it to.. besides i'll be sleeping down there anyways."
"You don't sleep in your bedroom?" Jean questioned as they continued walking,
"How can I when you're going to be in there." Armin said plainly as though it had already been obvious.
"Just put me in another room?"
"It's the only one."
Jean stopped walking and looked at Armin as though he were stupid, "Hawthorne. You're telling me you own this gigantic house and only have ONE bedroom?"
"Well it's not exactly like I have company is it Kirstein- besides I need the space- witchcraft is a dangerous art you know." Armin spoke sarcastically as they walked down a long hallway of doors. Finally they arrived in front of a door and Armin turned the knob carefully pushing it open, the bedroom was dim with a few candles lit here and there. against one wall in the middle was a bed, large and adorned with many silken blankets, and fabrics were draped strategically over the frame of the bed, there was also a small desk in the corner of the room with sheets of paper sprawled across it with an inkpot by their side and a small pile of books on one corner, on top of the books was a small gas lantern giving off the most light in the room. The room smelled of fresh paper as well as burning fires, and yet even though the room was large it didn't feel empty, something about it felt so warm to the two boys, something homely, though strangely to Armin he had never felt like this in his room before. He led the taller boy to the bed and sat him down, "I'll get you some of my fathers old clothes for the morning and a night dress for you to sleep in.. they're old but- they should fit." he turned and before Jean had actually managed to speak he was already out the door.
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As he walked to the room that held all of his parents clothes he quietly thought to himself about what possibly could have happened between Jean and Elijah. He vaguely recalled seeing something in the newspaper about Jean having an engagement to one of the lords daughters, she was a young and gorgeous girl, Sasha Braus, was that her name? Oh well, he didn't really care much anyways anything about the politicians annoyed him. Though none annoyed him more than Jean Kirstein himself- Why was he helping him again? had he gone soft? he crouched down taking some shirts out of one of the draws and placing them on top of the chest of draws, no surely not, it was just the state he was in was so far from his usual self that Armin had to help somehow, he may despise the guy but he didn't want him dead- did he?
Armin finished gathering a few sets of fresh clothes and walked back to the room no longer lost for thought came back with a pile of clothes in his hands and places them on a small chest of drawers and picked up one of the long night shirts heading over to Jean he realised the blonde was in pain trying to undo the lace at the top of his shirt, inwardly he sighed and placed the shirt down on the bed, he took Jean's hands off the knotted bow and carefully started untying it not realising how slow he was going. His thin, nimble hands worked at the laces gently as he couldn't help but not want to move from where he was stood, his heart was pounding as he pulled each lace end through each eyelet. It beat so fast and so loud he could hear it in his own head, that and he could hear his and Jeans breathing. Jeans breath was slow and steady unlike Armin's, he supposed that Jean was probably used to being dressed though being a young lord and all.. He could feel his face heating up it really wasn't good at all, and of course he stupidly made the mistake of looking up into Jeans eyes. Mentally he lost it. He froze up. Had.. his eyes always been this welcoming? The warm, chestnut brown eye help amber highlights mimicking that of the fire from earlier, even though Armin knew Jean was looking right back into his own eyes they seemed so vacant, like he wasn't even there or maybe didn't want to be. But Armin felt his breath hitch and his face heat up even more, there was something else, he didn't know what it was, the emotion, he had no idea but it gave his stomach flips when he felt it, his heart had even skipped a beat. Though it all ended quick enough as Armin suddenly rushed to take out the rest of the laces and pulled the shirt over jeans head and wasted no time before throwing the other one on not even giving himself a chance to look at the boys abs that he knew very well were there from when he patched his wounds and wrapped him with bandages earlier.
"Thanks-" Jeans voice could be heard before Armin shut the door quickly and turned leaning his back against it tilting his head upwards, his eyes were wide before he closed them slowly and let out a deep breath trying to calm himself down,
He had no idea what happened, what was that look in Jeans eyes- It was inviting, yet menacing- but better yet what on earth was wrong with Armin, after a few moments he finally narrowed it down to just not being used to close contact with humans unless he was fighting them but even still he rarely used his fists in a fight, he'd use his power until fighting became a last resort or something prevented him from doing so. When he was sure he had composed himself he walked back into the room to see Jean laying on the bed awkwardly under the red covers of the large bed. Armin walked over to the gas lamp and carefully put it out though his movements were hesitant and shaky and over all just awkward, he walked to the bedside table and opened the draw retrieving a box of matches carefully lighting one of the small candles on the table then put them away, all while refusing to look at Jean, he then brought a bell from the same draw placing it on the table as it made a small ring from the metal hitting the wood. Finally he turned to look at jean, "Ring- ring this if you... uhm if you need anything i'll be-" he was broke off with a cough and began fidgeting between his fingers, "I'll be downstairs." he turned to walk away and Jean suddenly picked up the bell and rung it making Armin halt in his foot steps and turn around with a slight scowl, much to even more annoyance, Jean seemed to be smirking,
"Just get in the bed would you Hawthorne? I may be gay but I have no intention of sleeping with you-"
"That's not it." Armin spoke quickly.
"Well then what is it?" Jean rose a bro lightly at him as he placed the bell down,
"I...Well- I don't know- it's just easier." Armin's scowl grew but inside his stomach was getting butterflies once again,
"Thomas-" his chest clenched strangely, was it sadness from the fact it wasn't his real name? or perhaps happiness that the boy was trying to use his first name, "Even though the fire was huge that room was freezing, please just get in the damn bed."
Armin gave up walking to the bed, it was large anyways so surely it would be okay, even still he felt awkward sharing a bed with a man he hated after all. reluctantly he climbed into the bed facing the opposite way from jean, he bunched up part of the bed sheet under one of his arms and gently closing his eyes about to fall asleep before Jean spoke, "Hawthorne-"
"What now Kirstein?" his voice came through gritted teeth,
He could hear the chuckle in the others voice as he continued to speak, "Are you holding the cover?"
"Go to sleep you penny-toff." Armin scoffed rolling over again and closing his eyes.
A few moments later Armin spoke up also, "Armin Arlert.."
"What-"
"My name. My name is Armin Arlert."
"well.. goodnight Arlert" Jeans voice was gentle and quiet and Armin could almost hear the fatigue in it
"Goodnight Kirstein." And with that final sentence Armin finally fell asleep to the silence in the room.
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