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Armin hadn’t planned to give into Ymir and Reiner’s invitation when they’d asked him if he wanted to go to the bar with them after work. It was a friendly gesture, both of them were kind and always urging him to have fun after a long week of work. He’d never given into their pleas before, but something had changed inside him, forcing him to say yes despite any logical reason not to.
He’d texted his husband to let him know he’d be home late, receiving a sweet, Have fun, babe <3 , in return.
He wondered if it had been the peer pressure that made him say yes to his friends, or maybe he might have actually needed a drink after such a long week. It might have been better to stop dwelling on his thoughts, and go home instead. He’d be able to relax and spend the night with the love of his life, cuddling and forcing him to watch whatever horror movie came into view first.
But Reiner’s booming voice ripped him from any calming fantasy he’d thought up for himself, “Shifts over, Armin! Let’s go!”
Then Ymir popped up from behind the tall man, with the same excitement in her voice, “We should get there asap, actually, my Historia is already waiting for us.” Her girlfriend worked as a bartender at their favorite place.
“Yeah, Connie, Sasha, Eren, and Mikasa agreed to meet us there soon too, so let’s go,” Reiner spoke again, “It would be embarrassing to show up later than everyone.” He and Ymir laughed, and Armin couldn’t help but let out a chuckle himself. His friends could be funny when they tried.
The sudden happiness in the air made him realize that his friends were genuinely just trying to get him to relax with their incessant begging of him to go out with them. It made his smile widen as he followed them out the door of the office.
They took Ymir’s car to the bar, immediately meeting their friends. They took their seats along the barstools, Historia pouring them all drinks instantly.
“Woah!” Sasha gasped loudly, “You guys actually convinced Armin to come?” She laughed wildly, bumping his shoulder from her seat.
“What can we say?” Ymir threw a shot back, not an ounce of a reaction to the bitter liquid, “He finally gave in to us.” They cheered to her statement, and everyone began to drink.
No one seemed to be holding back. The atmosphere was light and full of laughter as everyone talked about their work recently and different things that had been going on in their lives. It was fun until Mikasa unintentionally brought all the attention back onto Armin.
“How come Jean isn’t here?” Mikasa asked softly, sipping her cocktail. Armin had barely heard her through all the noise and the drink in his hand that began to take effect.
Eren raised a brow, “Jean didn’t come with you? Do I need to call the asshole and give him a piece of my mind?” Mikasa put her hand on his shoulder, rooting him down before he could stand and cause a commotion. He was an overprotective friend, especially when it came to the short blonde.
“No!” Armin was quick to answer loudly over the music and other people talking, all his friend’s eyes on him, “He’s had a lot of work to do recently and I would hate to distract him from it.” It wasn’t a lie. Although, Armin knew that Jean would drop anything he was doing instantly if Armin asked. His husband was caring like that.
“If you say so.” Eren rolled his eyes, moving his glass around the countertop.
“Wouldn’t it be fun to call him anyway?” Historia sent him a mischievous smile, “I do it to Ymir all the time.”
“I would feel terrible for making him come out here just to party when he’s got a deadline in a couple of days.” Armin explained, but he could see that his words weren’t fully reaching some of his friend’s already alcohol clouded brains.
“No, I see the issue here,” Reiner was already drunk, there was no doubt about it, and Armin wondered how he managed to chug so many drinks down so quickly, “You just don’t want Jean to get hit on out here. It’s Completely understandable why you want him to stay home.”
Armin froze, staring at the tall man dumbfoundedly, “What…? I would never do that!” His fingers tightened around the whiskey Historia had poured him, the cold of the glass beginning to numb his fingers. The last thing he wanted was for everyone to think he was some insane controlling person.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed about it,” Sasha giggled, her cheeks flushed, “Whenever Niccolo and I go out, you should see how many people try to flirt with him.”
“Yeah, no, I can tell you’re the possessive type. Letting him come out would totally kill the mood.” Ymir reached across from her seat to poke his cheek. “It’s a great thing, actually, that you made him stay home.”
Armin’s frown deeped at the accusations, but arguing with them would only throw the whole situation further into madness. So he decided to ignore his friends, opting to gulp down his drink instead. His throat burned and the sudden rush of it all went straight to his head. He found his stomach did not appreciate his drinking speed at all.
Everyone cheered at the action, though. Historia even poured him another glass and everyone began drinking twice as fast, Armin included. The night was meant for them all to have fun anyway, so why shouldn’t he at least try?
He thought about Jean once he was too drunk to think about anything else. They’d been drinking for a couple of hours, and the only sober people left were Mikasa and Historia. Everyone else was shit faced, and slowly leaving. Niccolo had shown up and taken Connie and Sasha with him, Bertolt had shown up to take Reiner, and Historia was handling Ymir on the other side of the bar.
It was when Mikasa approached him that he began crying.
“Hey, Min, do you want me to call Jean?” She put a hand on his arm, comforting him in her own way.
“No, you can’t!” Armin lashed out, putting his face in his hands as more ugly cries escaped him. “He can’t come here. Everyone was right. If someone flirts with him he’ll leave me for them because I’ll be too much to deal with!”
“Armin, everyone was just spouting nonsense, you know that’s not true, come on, I’ll take you home.” She reached for his hand, but he pulled away again.
“Mikasa,” He let more tears fall, “I can’t go home like this, I look awful.” Surely Jean wouldn’t want to be troubled with his precense.
“Armin, Jean loves you, he doesn’t care if you cry, come on it’s getting late and Eren fell asleep already.” She gestured to their best friend, who was leaving over the counter, drooling onto the surface.
A surge of sadness hit the blonde when he realized how late it must have been for Eren to have fallen asleep. Jean must have been waiting for him this entire time, and Armin suddenly missed him badly.
“I want Jean.” Armin slurred after what seemed like forever, breaking down all over again as Mikasa pulled him into a hug, rubbing his back.
“Okay, okay, I’ll call him.” She kept her voice calm, which really helped Armin not to freak out even more than he already was. She was an angel.
Mikasa called his husband, and Armin couldn’t make out what she was saying, his ears muffling the sounds. But fifteen minutes later, Jean appeared at the door of the bar, a woman greeting him. They seemed to exchange some more words Armin couldn’t hear, but the display before him made his heart ache.
What if the woman had already tried to ask for his number? What if she was trying some terrible pick up lines on him? What if she had asked him to explain the different mediums of art he liked to use in his works and had stolen his heart because she knew the difference between oil paints and acrylic? Armin couldn’t tell the difference once they were both dry on a canvas and Jean always teased him for it. What if Jean realized she was a better choice and was only coming his way to return the ring Armin had so delicately placed on his finger?
He choked down a sob, “Jean…” the name was barely audible as he waited on the stool, his husband closing the distance.
“Thank you so much, Mikasa.” Jean nodded to her and she spoke again, waving a goodbye as she woke Eren. They left with one more wave of goodnight and then Jean finally reached Armin, “Hey, babe.”
Armin let out a shaky breath, along with the loudest cry he had all night, standing, and ultimately stumbling into Jean, burying his face into his husband’s chest, and Jean was quick to wrap his arms around him, one hand carding through his hair.
“Woah, hey,” He rested his head atop the blonde’s tightening his hold, “What happened, baby?”
“I promise I’ll learn how to tell your paints apart.” His voice was muffled, and there was most definitely a patch of his tears and snot on the front of his husband’s shirt.
“What’s brought this on, Min?” Jean pulled him away from his chest, and Armin felt terrible for the annoyance he must have been causing.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt or anything, but we’re closing in five minutes.” The same girl from earlier appeared out of nowhere and Armin’s heart broke all over again when Jean responded.
“Thank you for letting us know, we’ll be out of your way.” He smiled kindly and she walked away, Armin stared between them, because surely they were speaking to each other in code and Jean was going to meet her for coffee tomorrow.
“Jean?” He tried to sound like he wasn’t about to start wailing again.
“What is it?” Jean kissed his head before he detangled them from their embrace, taking the blonde’s hand and walking towards the door.
“Do you think…” the words caught in his throat, “Do you ever wonder if someone better will come along for you?”
Jean pulled them outside, the sidewalk was empty as he stopped right next to his car, “What are you going on about?” The headlights flashed and a beep sounded as the doors unlocked.
Armin’s bottom lip trembled as he felt vile climb up his throat. The thought of Jean being in love with someone else….
“Do you…love me?” His words shook and his eyes began to burn again.
Jean opened his mouth and his eyes widened at his husband’s despair, “Of course I love you, Min, what’s brought this on? I don’t think drinking is for you.” He chuckled under his breath as he gestured for Armin to get in the car after he opened the door to the passenger’s side.
Armin let the tears continue falling and he spoke again, “You would never love someone else?”
“Not like I love you, no. Come on, let's go home.”
“What if that girl in there wanted you to take her home instead?” Armin shook his head, a blubbering mess, words unintelligible, his stomach twisted and turned at the thought.
“I’d tell her to fuck off and I’d take my beautiful, perfect husband home. Like I’m trying to do right now.” Jean walked back over to him, throwing an arm around his shoulder.
“Wait, Jean,” Armin pulled himself away from his husband, “I’m not feeling too good,” he found himself doubling over and spilling the contents of his stomach onto the sidewalk before he could utter another word.
His knees gave out and he braced himself for the impact of the concrete against them, but strong arms pulled him up and prevented it. He sobbed at the terrible feelings taking up the space in his chest, making it impossible to take a steady breath. Jean’s arms around him continued to help him not fall as he finished throwing up.
“Hey, Min, it’s okay,” Jean wiped his face with his sleeve, “Don’t cry, babe, come on. Let’s go home. You’re okay, I promise.”
Armin lost any will he had to fight against the way his husband practically carried him to the car with his soft voice and loving nature. They were home before he could even process the car ride. Jean had helped him inside, forcing him to drink some water and take a hot bath before helping him get dressed and moving them to the couch in their living room.
There, he handed Armin some medicine and made sure he took it. Armin curled in on himself on the sofa, wrapping himself in the blanket Jean had brought him. Another thing about his husband that had him on the verge of tears again. He was so caring, so sweet, and so patient.
Jean cleared his throat, taking the spot next to the blonde, “Are you feeling any better?” He reached a hand across to move the hair on his forehead to the side.
“Yes, thank you.” Armin mumbled, sniffling a bit before looking up to meet his husband's eyes, finally sober enough to be able to hear his voice clearly.
“Good.” Jean leaned over to peck his lips, and he reveled in the sweet affection before Jean continued, “Do you wanna tell me what all that was about earlier?”
Armin groaned, throwing his head back as the memories of his embarrassing actions came back, “Everyone was asking me why you weren’t there.”
“Okay? What else?” Jean pulled him closer and they moved into their favorite cuddling position.
“They were talking about how I don’t let you out of the house because I’m afraid someone is going to steal you from me.” Armin continued, “And I was upset that other people could see how much the thought of you with someone else affects me.”
“You know I’m going to take care of you no matter what, right?” Jean spoke in a low tone, as if the words were only for the two of them to hear.
“I know…” Armin pouted, shifting so he could see his husband’s face properly, “but you know.”
“I know, babe. I’ve just gotta keep reminding you how much I love you, right?”
“Yes.” Armin shifted himself so he was straddling Jean’s lap. His husband welcomed him eagerly, wrapping his arms around him tightly.
“I’ve gotta kiss the nonsense outta your pretty little head, right?” Jean always knew how to keep him from drowning in the terrible thoughts that crept into his mind. His husband was perfect.
“Definitely.” Armin leaned up to close the gap between them, sighing into Jean’s mouth. The relief of finally having his husband in his arms and in their home, all to himself hit him hard. That, and the slight buzz in his head was still lingering a bit.
Their lips moved together in only a way the two of them could have known. Jean’s hands found their way beneath his shirt, leaving goosebumps wherever they touched. Armin’s tongue licked his bottom lip, he was granted access instantly, earning a small groan from his husband as he shifted in his lap. The sound was enticing, welcoming Armin in every sense to take whatever he needed from Jean. Until Jean pulled away, disconnecting their mouths with a wet sound.
“Alright, let’s go to bed.” Jean yawned, setting his large hands on Armin’s hips. The blonde turned to the clock in their wall, noticing the time was nearing three in the morning. Guilt seeped into his mind as he slowly stood from his spot, fixing his clothes.
“Oh god, I’m so sorry for keeping you up this late!” Armin covered his mouth as he let out a shocked breath.
Jean got up, stretching his arms above his head, and Armin couldn’t help that his eyes fell to the exposed skin of his stomach instantly. His husband was the most attractive person in the world.
“Oh, Min, you know I never mind you keeping me up late.” Jean’s voice lowered and he sent a wink in Armin’s direction. The suggestive comment sent color into the blonde’s cheeks instantly.
“Shut up, you have work tomorrow.” Armin rolled his eyes, walking towards their bedroom, but not before taking Jean’s hand in his.