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There you sat, book in your lap, by the tree, a soft breeze ruffling the pages when you tried to turn one. It was the spot where you usually found peace, putting aside your duties as a scout to feel relatively free. It was a nice feeling. The sound of nature surrounded you, the soft songs of birds and the distant chirps of crickets filled your ears as your eyes followed the words on the pages. Somehow, you’d manage to escape the cruel reality of the world when you’d sit here.
“(Y/N)!” A voice yelled with the crackle of leaves following. You looked up from your book and felt your heart lift at the sight of Armin making his way up the small hill to join you.
“I always look for you, yet I always find you here.” He said with a gentle smile displayed on his lips. His blond hair swayed with the wind as he strode towards you, strands covering his face while closing in the distance.
“Hi Armin,” You cheerfully replied, patting the soft patch of grass beside you. Taking your offer, the blond sat down next to you, letting his back rest against the tree while his blue eyes wandered to the now-closed book on your lap.
“What are you reading?”
“Oh, it’s the book you gave me for my birthday, about the world outside the walls.” You replied, tucking the book under your legs. Lifting your head, you met Armin’s gaze. Was he… blushing? It must be the sun, you thought. After a moment of silence and holding an awkward stare, Armin cleared his throat, breaking the endearing tension.
“Uh, do you like it so far?” He responded quietly, looking a bit nervous.
“I really do ‘Min! These stories… they’re so fascinating, I wish you would’ve talked to me about them sooner, or given me this sooner-” You stopped mid-sentence as you felt your cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“Really?” Armin responded quickly, his heart racing with exhilaration. He saw how your eyes were sparkling as you spoke, noticing how you were just as fascinated by the subject as he was. It was refreshing to him.
“Yeah! What was that thing called again,” Reaching under your legs, you opened the book swiftly, searching for the elusive name you wanted. But Armin, he simply watched you, grinning from ear to ear, not uttering a word as you rambled excitedly.
“There it is, the sea! The way the book describes it- We have to see it ‘Min. And the…”
The rest of your words were a blur for Armin as he watched you. From your wide, infectious smile, to the way your hands flew in the air animatedly while you spoke. He watched you as if his eyes were magnetized; your hair blew softly in the wind, your eyes glimmered as you spoke, and he noticed every detail. Armin felt so warm and fluttery every time he saw you, even worse when he was in your presence. He thought he’d melt to the ground like ice. You make him so… euphoric. He never wants that feeling to disappear, especially if he-
“‘Min? Armin? Helloooo-” A voice said, pulling him out of his daydream with a hand waving softly in front of his eyes. His eyes widened as you had caught him in a trance, a light pink spreading to his cheeks and nose while he averted his gaze to the scenery ahead.
“Sorry, what were you saying?” He asked with a hint of embarrassment in his voice.
“Am I that boring?” you laughed, playfully hitting his shoulder. Armin joined in your laughter, as yours was addicting.
“You could never be boring to me... just… hearing your voice is enough to make my day,” Armin replied in a hushed tone, before turning his head to face you, eager to catch your reaction. Slowly, a bright smile crept onto your lips.
A comfortable silence settled between the two of you as you only gazed into each other’s eyes, both wearing the same cheesy grin and light blush on your cheeks. The light, refreshing breeze returned, carrying the scent of the nearby flowers and ruffling the leaves of the tree above you. The birds' chirping slowly faded as you observed Armin, getting lost in the familiar feeling of his blue eyes. You looked down in embarrassment, your hands playing with the blades of grass at your feet, trying to hide that you were staring at him.
“(Y/N)?” Armin said, drawing a breath before he continued. “This may be random but, do you believe in love at first sight?” It was something that had been wandering in his mind for a while. Right now, it might be his only chance to ask.
“I do” was all you told him.
“That’s, uhm, good to know… do you have anyone in mind?” Armin asked, his hopes were high, hoping you’d say it was- He shouldn’t assume that… Your hand stopped from exploring the soft blades of grass while you thought about your answer. Should you tell the truth?
"Yeah, I do," you muttered softly, not wanting to elaborate. With a curious look, Armin observed your reddening face.
“Can I ask who it is?” He responded softly. You began to stammer, not knowing how or even if you should say it.
“He probably doesn’t feel the same, it would be useless to say.” You muttered under your breath, keeping your gaze on the green sitting under you.
“You never know, and even if he doesn’t feel the same, he’d be a fool who doesn’t deserve you,” Armin admitted. His thought was genuine, kind even.
“You really think that?” You asked him, tilting your head to rest on your knees, staring at Armin as he spoke.
“Absolutely. You’re so… amazing, kind, beautiful. Anyone who doesn’t see that is blind.” You were taken aback by his answer; the compliments sent your mind into a spiral. He was saying that? About you?
The tree rustled behind you as the blond awaited your words, worried he might have said too much. He gazed at you; you didn’t seem afraid, but rather sheepish. Your eyes were irradiated by the sun, making you wince as you wrapped your arms around your knees, tucking them close to your body. You seemed deep in thought, Armin thought to himself.
“Do you believe in love at first sight ‘Min?” You asked, cutting the slight tension in the air.
“I do.” He paused, before continuing, “I’ve felt it for a while now, with… with someone.”
“Oh.” Your hopes fell from their high horse. Why did you feel so disappointed to know that Armin loved someone?
“Would you be shocked if I said I had never believed in love at first sight until I met… the person right beside me…?”
He did it. He finally confessed.
“Who- wait, me?” You replied with shock. What did he mean by the person right beside me? It couldn’t be you, you were- No, it couldn’t be.
“Yeah. It's you, it's always been you.” He whispered, taking his time to look at you, from the way your eyes opened wide to the significant shock on your face, yet, you still looked beautiful.
“I guess…” You hesitated, “I could say the same.”
“Wait, you… you feel the same?” Armin’s blue eyes widened at your confession, his mind easing the scramble of possible answers you could’ve given him, not even thinking about if you ever felt the same.
“Yeah-” You were quickly cut off by Armin.
“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” His question poked your brain, why hadn’t you?
“I was worried you wouldn’t feel the same.” You confessed, but truly you had never thought about acting on your feelings; you were in the military for the walls' sake, but it felt comforting to let it out.
You both gazed into each other's eyes once more, the sound of nature enveloping you while the sunlight enhanced your reddened faces.
“We’re a bunch of idiots, aren’t we? All this time, thinking our feelings are unrequited when we… we loved each other.” He whispered as his hand lifted to tuck your loose strand of hair behind your ear.
A sudden surge of happiness coursed through your body; you grinned from ear to ear, never wanting this to end as you let your head fall onto his shoulder. While the sun started to disappear from afar, the soft orange glow illuminated Armin’s face as he replicated the smile plastered on your face, his soft blue eyes glowing with endearment as he looked at you, the person he’d loved for over two years, now finally at his side. The birds' chirping died down as a curtain of darkness fell upon the scene, the soft glimmer of stars enveloping the two of you in a new chapter of your lives together.