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Annie always woke up with the sun. It was like clockwork, everyday, without an alarm he’d find her on her small patio. Sitting in her chair, her head turned towards the sky, the golden morning rays of the sun waking up to warm the strands of her beautiful hair. She would tell him that the early bird would get the worm and while he had chuckled at that sentiment, he’d steal a small kiss before leaving her at peace.
I miss you.
She’d texted him as he stood at the gate of his airplane, ready to board. The sun hadn’t risen yet, the crisp summer night air had clung to his skin like misery at the idea of leaving her again. But Armin had things he was supposed to want to do and achieve.
As smart as he was, as he aced every challenge thrown to him, Armin had no aspiration in life.
He was smart, he knew to do well in school. He knew to accept the challenges with a smile. Armin knew how to pretend to want to be at the top of the world. They said he could do it. A man with a brain like his could do anything.
So he wondered why he didn’t want to achieve everything that was promised to him.
He wondered why he couldn’t find it in himself to look forward to each morning and the rise of the sun. He didn’t have that hunger to reach for more and only strived to become something worthwhile until he could figure out what he wanted to do with himself, for the rest of his life.
Then, one rainy morning everything changed when he met her and he felt like he finally woke up from the daze that had become his everyday life. It was such a strange thing to do, to crave for someone. While Armin sometimes didn’t understand the beauty of Annie Leonhart, everything always led him back to her.
From then on, the stars seemed brighter in the sky and the rain felt a little warmer against his skin. His pillow couldn’t get him tired if she wasn’t lying beside him. It felt like the gravitational force that drew him to continue to strive for something he didn’t want had shifted and his life revolved around a very harshly realistic blonde with the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen.
He placed his phone in his pocket, gripped his cup of coffee a little tighter and held his ground as the line of people started taking their turns walking through the terminal of the plane that was supposed to fly him to a distant land, to help develop technology he didn’t even believe in.
Determined, he turned around and rushed back to the one thing he did believe in.
Armin knew he’d find her on her small patio, a warm cup of coffee warming her cold hands as she waited for the sun to rise and the birds to start singing their beautiful melody. When he reached her apartment complex, he curled towards the back. Heart pounding before he ascended the steps to her patio.
She was beautiful.
So beautiful that he was sure she defined that word for him. When she heard his steps, she opened her eyes and sat up. Her baby blues showed confusion once they focused on him. “Armin.” She sat her coffee down and stood, “What are you doing here, you’re supposed to be on that plane.”
He finished his ascension and placed his cup on the ledge of the patio. “I just wanted to be where you are.”
She let a small smile slip through her concern before looking down at the watch on her wrist. “The plane must have left by now.”
“I wasn’t thinking of getting on it.”
“But you said that this was a once in a lifetime-”
He took a step towards her, his hands finding their own way home on her hips. “-I know what I said, Annie.”
The confusion was settling deeper, he could tell that she was conflicted from the small tightness to her brows and the light scrunch of her nose. “I could tell you a million different reasons, things I haven’t told you before. But Annie,” He lets out a small chuckle. “It all gets tangled up inside and I- I only want to be where you are.”
“I missed you last night.” She says lightly, her small hands raising to caress his cheek. Armin meets Annie halfway, placing a light kiss on her lips. Then two more.
“I would have missed you every day of that damn trip and I… How could I have known that one day I’d be feeling so much more than I had before? I didn’t know back then when I made those plans- but I know now. I couldn’t get on that plane, Annie.”
She gave him a small sad smile. He’d already shared his fragile truths with her. “I don’t understand, what are you feeling?”
His heart skipped a beat, and he pulled her closer, bringing her tighter to his tired body. Annie returned the hug, and he held on to her securely as he moved her backwards, until the back of her knees hit her chair, and she was forced to sit down. Smiling, he let go of her to sit in front of her, hands gliding across her calves before resting against her knees.
She sighed happily, relaxing in her chair. Closing her eyes and leaning her head back. “I missed your hands already, is that weird to say? They feel… Heavy and warm. If I could be honest with you, the idea of being away from you for so long hurts.” Her voice was heavy with emotions but her face looked as serene as ever.
The sun was rising, golden rays warming the strands of her blonde hair. She looked like a Goddess. She felt and tasted just as precious to him. As he stared at her, heart pounding in his chest, he wondered if she felt it too. He felt a river of thoughts running through his mind.
He wondered if she felt it too.
“Annie.”
She opened her eyes and shifted in her seat so she could look down at him. “Hm?”
“Your eyes are always so gentle when you look at me.” The blush that dusted her cheeks matched the pink shades in the beautiful morning skies. “I was going to board my plane, you know. But I kept thinking about you. How you taste, feel, look, sound. How you’re the first thing in my life that has brought color into it and meaning into every morning. I don’t know how it happened but after meeting you, I’ve started looking forward to each and every day as long as that day would bring me closer to you and would be spent with you.”
The blush deepened and she reached out to him again. Her gentle hands brushing his hair, then his cheeks, before settling on his shoulders to rub light circles. “Armin, I-”
“I’m in love with you. I could sit here and tell you about each and every moment that has been spent with you that has shifted my point of view of life. Every moment that has made me want to live and try harder and become a better person. Every time you’ve made me so happy.”
“Armin.” Her eyes glossed over with tears and when those tears finally escaped those eyes, he panicked. Shifted to his knees, he pulled her closer to him.
“Did I say something wrong?” Hesitation filled him like dread and he pulled her in closer when she let out a choked laugh.
“No, silly. I’m just… You’ve never said any of this before.”
“I was scared before. But Annie,” His panic settled deeper, and now his words were a rushed mess. “Thinking that I wouldn’t see you for a year, thinking that I could lose you in that year. It was a lot and I realized a lot.”
“Why would you lose me?”
“Who am I to ask you to wait for me? Who am I to want that for you? This program isn’t worth it. I… I am in a great place right now and I don’t mean just academically or because of my job. I mean that because of you . I know… We haven’t solidified what we are. I know you’ve said that you don’t want to put labels on our relationship because you didn’t want to be a stresser. But, fuck, Annie I’m in love with you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
“You… Where is this all coming from?”
“From my heart.” It was his turn to blush with how corny he must sound right now. “I understand if that’s not where you’re at. I understand if that’s not even what you want but-”
“-I’m in love with you too.” She suddenly blurted, leaning forward until her lips met him in a deep kiss.
“You don’t have to say it, if you don’t mean it.” He said as their lips pulled apart.
“You know I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it. I’ve been in love with you for a while, but I didn’t want to hinder you from everything you have going on for you. Like this trip for example.”
“Are you insane? None of that matters as much as what I have with you.”
“Maybe I am a little insane. I feel guilty for you coming back and not-”
He pressed his lips against hers again, cutting off her stubborn arguments. Annie sighed happily, wrapping her arms around his neck, holding him. He enjoyed the moment for a while, standing up when she started to let go so that he could grab his coffee and sit next to her.
She smiled at him before leaning in his direction, placing her head on his shoulder as she looked out into the distance, enjoying the small summer breeze. They fell into a comfortable silence, drinking their coffee while watching the beginnings of a brand new day.
Armin had never felt so sure of himself, so at peace, as he did with her sitting next to him.