Work Text:
The Gift
Christmas.
Always and ever the same as every year. At least in Annie Leonhardts mind. There weren’t many christmas feast she’d actually enjoyed. When she was little she would celebrate christmas with her father at home but that wasn’t much fun. Annie didn’t have any other family. Her grandparents were gone and her mother had died when she was a baby. She surely loved her father but he wasn’t a charming and heartwarming person comparing to other parents.
They ate bread and vegetables for dinner together like every evening and she even got a little gift but unlike that nothing was really different than the daily routine.
He still insisted her on training hard and much everyday. Even on christmas she wasn’t allowed to take a break.
He always wanted her to be powerful and better than everybody else. In the beginning, when she was very young she didn’t enjoy material arts but in the end she had lernt to love it and she turned out to be pretty good in her sports.
Her dad was very proud and always expected the best from his daughter.
Her good training resulted in winning many competitions and winning many competitions resulted in a getting a scholarship for a elite boarding school in England.
Annie was still a child when she had the chance to attend the boarding school and her father insisted her to go because comparing to other families they weren’t rich.
They actually had to use every dollar twice if they didn’t want to starve at the end of the month.
It was a fact that made her father quite sad because he couldn’t really change the situation. He always thought that Annie deserved to have as much as other children.
Her father wanted her to have a better future so he sent her away when she turned 12.
The first time she stepped on English ground was 4 years ago now. 4 years in which she hadn’t seen her dad on christmas. And this year wouldn’t be any diffent.
She couldn’t blame him. The fly was pretty expensive and long. The Atlantic Ocean layed between them. Her father lived in Detroit and the bording school she attended was on the countryside in south England.
Her father told her to be thankful that she got the scholarship. Not everyone had this chance. The scholarship included education until she would get her A-levels, a place to sleep and probably the best food that existed in school canteen.
In the last 4 years Annie had gotten used to her new life in England.
She got to know many new people. Most of them were unlike her rich. Or more precisely their parents were rich. Parents who could afford such an expensive education.
There were rich kids like Historia Reiss. The probably richest kid the boarding school had to offer. Her parents were the owner of an expensive high-fashion brand and there existed some rumours that there was royal blood in her family.
Annie didn’t know if she should believe in that.
Other students in her current class were Sasha Blouse, who was here because her parents owned a restaurant chain, Reiner Braun, who was here because his father was a top sportsman in soccer, Berthold Hoover, who’s father was a important politician and Eren Jaeger. He was her Because his father was the boss of the biggest hospital in London.
There were still other people but Annie didn’t knew every story of every student.
She just knew that there weren’t much people who were just like her.
A girl named Mikasa Ackerman had a scholarship just like Annie but she didn’t really enjoyed Mikasas company that much. Annie also knew that Mikasa didn’t like Annie at all but Annie didn’t really care about that.
Annie wasn’t really good in making new friends. She had some people she liked around her but actually she would consider herself more like a “Lone wolf”.
When Annie was in the mood for company she would spent some time with her roommate Hitch, who happed to be a typical rich girl but at least a rich girl who happed to be sympathy towards Annie.
There were other people who were nice and fun but Annie wouldn’t consider the most relationships as friendship.
She just felt very different. She didn’t fit in. During her time until her A-levels she would, probably, never.
People without scholarships were just different. At least that’s what Annie felt.
There was just one other person she knew who was here because of a scholarship besides herself and Mikasa.
The person was the boy Armin Alert.
He happened to be the same age as Annie and attended the same class.
Armin probably got the scholarship because of his intelligence. He was pretty smart without a doubt. Also the boy was kind and always smiling. For real. Annie couldn’t remember a single day were Armin didn’t smile.
He had such a good aura around him. Annie admired him for that.
When they spend time together it always ended up to be a good time, even though they didn’t spent much time together.
Armin was pretty popular. At least that was what Annie thought. He was almost always in company with his closest friends Eren and Mikasa. Also, he was friends with almost every guy and girl in their class and she knew that everyone loved his kind and caring personality, including her as well.
If she was honest to herself she knew that she had a crush on him for a longer time by now but she also knew that she didn’t stand a chance against the other girls.
She wasn’t as pretty and fun as Mikasa and Historia and not as rich as everybody else. So why would she even try to get closer with him? It wasn’t even worth a try.
Annie didn’t want to think about him that often but sometimes she couldn’t shut her thoughts down.
That was kind of hard. But Annie actually didn’t fell less worth than the other kids. She just felt lonely sometimes. Especially on Christmas when Hitch and most of the others were gone spending some time with their families.
Hitch was on vacation in Austria every year during Christmas with her parents.
Historia, Eren and Mikasa as well. Only a small amount of kids stayed during the Holidays.
For those kids who stayed, there happened to be a little Christmas party organised by the boarding school.
The students would bake Christmas Cookies, and decorate a tree together in the big hall. Everybody would wear a fine and expensive dress or suit for the evening. They would eat together and after the dinner they would listen together to a piano play of some students. Later they would, sometimes, sing together or tell each other some stories. It actually ended up in the end to sit together and just spent some time with each other.
That wasn’t really that bad so far but a small tradition existed that Annie didn’t like.
A few weeks before Christmas every student who would stay during the holidays had to write their name on a letter.
The letters of the students would be thrown into a pot and later on the letters would be mix and the students had to step forward to the pot a take one letter.
The students would have to make a gift for the person they had got.
Last year Annie had taken Jean Kirsteins letter and she was gifted by Ymir.
Annie weren’t able to buy something expensive like everybody else. Because of that she felt like nobody really wanted to be gifted by her.
Other people were able to buy pretty outfits and expensive make-up.
She wasn’t able to do that. She always got the feeling that the others were disappointed when they would open their present. Because of that she hated this tradition. Annie couldn’t see her father, Hitch left for a trip in Austria and she had to take part in a tradition she didn’t like. All of that together made her Christmas holidays anything but enjoyable. And this year wouldn’t be any different.
Today was the day were the students had to take the letters.
They all sat together in a room and it seemed like 25 to 30 people would stay for Christmas. From Annies class it happed to be Ymir, Reiner Braun, Sasha Blouse, Mina Carolina, Marco Bott, Armin Alert, Connie Springer and Porco and Marcel Galliard.
The first one who took a letter was Reiner Braun.
He took Porco Galliards letter.
The one after that was Ymir, who got Marco Bott.
After her Sasha Blouse took a letter it was Annies turn to step in front of the people. At the pot she let her Hand sink into the mass of paper and took one letter.
She opened him and read the name.
“Armin Alert.”
After she went back to her seat she thought about the one she had to make a gift for.
Actually she was happy to make a present for him. He wasn’t rich as well and would probably unterstand why she wouldn’t give him an expensive gift.
But she also was a bit scared that he wouldn’t like her present. No matter how expensive it would turn out to be at the end.
She really didn’t pay any attention anymore to what happened in front of her until Armin appeared. He was one of the last one who would have to take a letter.
When he opened his letter and spoke Annie listened precisely.
“Annie Leonhardt.”
That was unexpected.
She would make a gift for him and he for her.
That was good?
They were both not rich so both of them would receive a gift that would be equal. But what? That was pretty hard.
In the beginning Annie liked that she would be the one who would make a gift for Armin but after some time she was less ambitious about that.
She just didn’t really know what Armin would like to get for christmas.
Sure Annie knew a few things about him. He was smart and was always reading a lot of books. She could give him a book but how would she be able to tell which book he would like or which book he hadn’t read already?
A book wasn’t a good idea. Annie didn’t want to ask Armin what he would like for Christmas. It wouldn’t be a surprise anymore if she did. And she didn’t just want to give him any book. In the worst case he wouldn’t like and read it.
Annie was sure that he was too polite to tell her that he didn’t like his gift but Annie didn’t want to disappoint him nevertheless.
Another thing that he liked was the ocean. At least that’s what Annie thought. Armin talked a lot about the ocean sometimes. In the last 4 Years he had told everyone a lot of stories about his home near the ocean and what he wanted to see and visit one day near the oceans and coasts of the world.
So the ocean was one thing more that he admired but how could she include that in a Christmas present?
No way. This task was very difficult.
The days went by and Annie became more scared by the day she would have to present her gift to Armin.
A few days before christmas she went to a flea market. She was very late so she had to look and take every last chance she had.
Annie knew that Armin would probably never be mad or angry but disappointed if he didn’t get anything at all.
At the flea market she finally found something that could be Armins Christmas present.
The person who sold her the present looked kind and packed the gift for her into a bag.
On her way home her hands were freezing and she shivered. Sometimes she thought that a new winter coat would be nice but today she was glad that she had spent her money on the Christmas gift for Armin.
A few days passed until Christmas had arrived. In the morning all students woke up early to decorate the tree and bake cookies for the evening and for dinner everyone appeared in their best dress.
This year Annie wore a red dress with silk fabric and floral-lace details. The dress had long sleeves and was knee-length.
She borrowed that dress from Hitch otherwise she wouldn’t have anything good to wear for the dinner.
At the dinner she sat between Mina and Marco. The food was really good. They ate goose, chicken, potatoes, vegetables and a lot of other things that were served.
After the dinner everyone went into the big hall to celebrate. The piano was played by a talented student, stories were told and people were laughing.
After some time the first students exchanged their Christmas gifts.
One thing Annie was glad about was that at least this part of the tradition didn’t happen in front of everyone else.
She would surely be more embarrassed every year, if every student saw what she would give away.
After some time the evening went near its end. Some people had already left and went to sleep, other still sat at the Fireplace and a few people had fallen asleep on the big couch.
Annie still hadn’t given Armin his present and he didn’t came to her as well.
Annie wanted to give him his present in a quiet place were they couldn’t be interrupted by other people. She didn’t want anyone to see what Armin would receive. Even if she was certain that he would be happy about his present, she was still a little scared and had tiny doubts what other people would think.
She waited until Armin and her were the last people in the hall. It was pretty late. Everybody else was gone.
Annie sat on the couch and tried to warm up her hands until she heard a male voice.
“Hey, am I allowed to sit beside you?”
“Sure.”
Armin looked gorgeous in his suit. She hadn’t seen him in a suit before. The last years he went always home and this was his first Christmas at boarding school.
“I think I’d like to give you your gift by now.”
All students had layed their their gifts in front of the Christmas tree before the dinner had started. Armins and her presents were the last ones that layed there.
Armin stood up and went to the tree, when he came back Annie saw how beautiful wrapped the present was.
It seemed to be a small and less heavier present than hers. “I really hope that you will like my gift Annie.”
“I’m sure that I will” Annie said smiling.
Carefully she opened the present and looked at it. Armins gift were black lined gloves. They were beautiful. “Thank you Armin, they look amazing”
“I really knew that you would like them”
Now it was Annies turn. She went to the tree and took her present. Back at the couch she gave it to Armin.
“That’s really heavy, I wonder what’s in there” Armin said while he was smiling.
He opened it and saw a chess play in a vintage style.
“Do you like it?”
Armin seemed speechless for a moment. Maybe that gift was a bad Idea after all? Maybe Annie should have chosen something else instead?
She almost got sad until he answered her.
“Oh yeah, of course I do! I love playing chess! How did you know that?”
Annie didn’t knew at all. She got red and decided to answer him.
“I-I didn’t knew. I just thought your pretty smart and you might enjoy playing chess. And the chess play looked pretty cool.”
“Thank you Annie. That’s a great present”
“So, but if you like playing chess so much, why don’t you have one already?”
That was a question that Annie wanted to know. Had she brought something that he had here already?
“Oh, I do, I have one at home but don’t be sad. This looks so much better than the one that my parents own. And besides that I don’t get to see my home and parents very often. That’s perfect. Now I can play and I don’t have to wait until I get home.”
“That’s cool, I was a bit scared that you might be disappointed.”
Armin smiled and Annie was glad that he liked her gift. Her present was a success.
After some time she decided to ask him a question. It was something that had been in her mind for quite some time by now.
“Armin, why are you here? I mean not why are you here but why aren’t you spending you holidays with your family?”
Armin stopped smiling and Annie was afraid for a short moment that she might have killed the good mood.
“Before I came to boarding school I have lived with my grandfather. My parents were travellers and always gone. I didn’t get to see them very often and even after I went to boarding school and got home for Christmas I always celebrated alone with my grandfather. He died 6 months ago. That’s why I am here.”
That was a sad story. Annie had definitely killed the mood by asking this. Now Armin looked sad.
“I’m sorry for your loss. That must be very hard.” Annie said.
“Oh no, don’t be. Your right. I was really sad when he died but he lived a long, healthy and good life. It’s okay for me now.”
“Really? I’m sorry I didn’t knew. Nevertheless...I hope that you liked the evening.”
“I did enjoy the evening Annie. I mean I enjoy your company, I was able to spent Christmas together with you. And I’m happy that you made a gift for me this year.”
After his last sentence Armin got red and Annie couldn’t believe what she had just heard. He was happy to spent his holidays with her?
“Me too Armin.” She said smiling. She really was. If she couldn’t spent christmas together with her dad or talk to Hitch she could at least see Armin.
After his confession It was quiet for a few moments until Annie broke the silence.
How did you know that I would like black gloves? They are beautiful. That’s a great present.”
Annie saw that Armin got nervous. Was he embarrassed about telling her?
“You know, I saw you from time to time and I never saw you with gloves and sometimes you seemed like you were freezing. So I thought that maybe gloves would be a good choice.”
“That’s right that happened to be a really good choice Armin.” Both of them smiled again.
“You know... I don’t know if this is the right moment to tell you this but... I thought about the present a lot and what you would like to get... I know that both of us are different from the other we are here because we got a scholarship..... “
Armin took a deep breath before he finished his sentence.
“I really wanted to make you smilie today and I want to tell you... that I like you... and I would love to spent more time with you..”
Annie couldn’t believe what Armin had just said.
Her crush liked her back. Did she dream? No this was real. Annie couldn’t hold back a smile. After a few seconds Armin smiled back.
“Can I try something?”Annie asked.
“Sure.” Armin answered shyly.
Annie moved her face next to Armins and closed her eyes. The next moment the teenagers were kissing.
It was her first kiss and Annie liked it. The kiss was sweet and soft. It didn’t last very long but Annie enjoyed it and she was sure that Armin did as well.
After the kiss Annie looked shy down to the ground.
“I’m glad you told me. I like you back and I would love to spent more time with you.”
When Annie looked into Armins eyes again she was sure that he looked like he was the happiest boy on earth.
Armin leaned forward and both kissed each other again. This time the kiss lasted longer.
After some kissing Armin spoke again.
“I’m glad that you feel the same. Would you like to play chess for our start of spending more time together?”
“Absolutely.”
Annie leaned forward again to kiss Armin.
This Christmas had turned out to be wonderful Annie thought before they started their first chess play.