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Jean walks down the hallway to the commander’s office. Two scouts are talking in the hallway. As he gets closer one taps the other girl on the shoulder and she turns around. They salute and he does the same. He lowers his arm, “Good evening ladies, have you seen commander Arlert?”
“He’s still in his office, sir.”
He sighs at the answer, “Okay thank you, ladies, good night.”
“Good night Captain Kirstein.” He jogs to Armin’s office.
A knock on the door takes Armin out of his concentration. He looks up to see Jean shutting the doors and walking toward him.
“You’re late for bed.”
“I was just about to head out.”
Jean looks at the stack of papers and then the half-empty bottle of whiskey,” Uh-huh.” He moves to the cabinet on the back wall and grabs a glass, grabs the bottle, fills it halfway, and sits in the chair on the other side of Armin's desk. He puts down the pen and grabs his glass. “Jean, I’ve decided.”
“On what?”
“I’m running away. Tomorrow morning I’ll be gone.”
“Are you getting a divorce as well or will this be a long-distance relationship?”
“You’re welcome to come.”
“Oh yeah, and I would have discovered that how? When I heard you packing or with a note on your pillow?”
Armin blushes slightly, only then remembering that he forgot to talk to his husband about running away.
“I meant to tell you earlier.”
“Yeah, thanks, 12 hours is not enough time to say goodbye to my mom. If we tell her our plans she’ll make breakfast. “
Armin stands up, ”And this is why I didn’t tell you. “ He heads for the door. Jean gets up and catches him just before the couches.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re making fun of me.”
Jean takes Armin’s hand and squeezes lightly. “I’m sorry, I’m really trying not to. Please don’t actually leave.”
Jean’s desperate for Armin to stay. Armin goes back to his desk and sits back down. Jean follows and fills his glass up. “So where are we going?”
“Anywhere that gets me off this damn island. A one ticket away.”
“Well we should have a travel plan for safety reasons. Onyankopon went back to London, that’s a good place to start, plus he could fly us to the rest of our destinations.”
“Mikasa would take us in. Maybe we could travel with her.”
“Traveling with a princess, how exciting.”
Armin sighs and puts his head on the desk. “I don’t know anymore.” he looks up, running a hand through his long hair. “I have a job to do, and it’s killing me. If we leave, run away- if I run away I’m no better than a coward.”
He sets his head back on the desk and Jean gets up and walks around spinning his chair around so Armin is facing, well he would be if not for the wall of blond hair blocking his face.
Jean pushes his hair back so he can see his handsome face. Armin’s eyes are closed. “Min, sweetheart.” He takes Armin’s face in his hands. “Look at me.” Armin opens his eyes and Jean smiles softly.
“You’re not a coward. I know you think that but it’s not true. Running away is a sign that you are alive. That life is worth living and deep down some part of you knows that.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Armin puts his head on Jean’s shoulder and Jean rubs his back.
“I’m tired, Jean.”
“I know. Let’s go to bed and in the morning you still want to run, then we’ll go wherever you want, we’ll go.”
A nod against his shoulder and Jean takes his hands, he gently squeezes them and Armin lifts up his head. Jean kisses his forehead and rests his hand on his cheek.
Jean lifts Armin up and he wraps his legs around the taller man. Jean walks out and flips the switch darkening the office.
He closes the doors and Armin hands him the key, Jean locks the doors and heads for their bedroom.
Maybe they’ll leave tomorrow, maybe tonight was their last night in that office and Armin’s last night as Commander. There’s a chance that Jean locked the doors for the last time. Their future is unknown and comes first light their lives will be chosen. Stay and continue as Commander and 1st captain or leave everything behind and run off hand in hand. Jean doesn’t know and Armin’s ignoring his thoughts. For now, they’ll focus on each other and this moment. This moment of lasts or just another night. All that mattered was each other and the undying love they felt for each other.