Chapter Text
The night was too cold to be warded off by the roughspun blankets that the Survey Corps gave their soldiers. Armin bitterly regretted not taking up Eren’s offer to sleep by him; though at least he still had some dignity left. He noted, with a gentle huff, that most of his peers still regarded him as a child, or at the very least, weak and fragile - while they only seemed to value him for his brains.
Every time someone offered to carry something for him, or when he received offers to help with whatever, Armin’s pride diminished. It wasn’t that he would be better off without the help, or that he could totally do it himself, it was that he’d rather prove, for some reason that he could help himself. Even if he couldn’t.
Take Armin’s shivering during the night. It could easily be remedied by shared body warmth - he knew many people who shared blankets and beds without it being sexual - but Armin would much rather tough it out. He’d rather prove it to himself. He was tired of being a burden.
But even now, Armin’s pride stuck in his throat. Why did he say he could do without Eren’s help? A slight gust of wind blew up the blanket, coating Armin with another layer of shivers. Most nights Armin ended up fine, but this one? This was the coldest it had felt in a long time.
Another bout of shivers overtook Armin and he quietly swore to himself. It was too bad that Eren slept elsewhere… Armin bit into his blanket to keep his teeth from chattering too loudly and immediately spat out a fluff ball. That was a stupid idea. He would have to keep his chattering teeth under control.
Hours could have passed, but time was lost to the freezing soldier. For what seemed like the umpteenth time, Armin wiggled around on his little roll, desperate to find a better, warmer sleeping position.
“Damn,” he swore again, this time daring to be louder. None of his peers who slept nearby would hear anyways, they were all fast asleep. Or - The sound of another blanket sliding around make Armin freeze. It was coming from next to him - Jean. Armin held his breath, hoping that Jean was merely asleep and rolling over.
“Armin?” It seemed that was not the case. Jean’s voice was bleary and rough from having just awoken. Armin shivered again and continued to hold his breath. “Armin are you awake?”
Armin rolled over to face Jean. “Unfortunately,” he whispered.
Jean’s golden eyes glinted under the stars as he wiggled his hands out of his blanket. A few seconds passed before he spoke again. Armin tried to hold off the next attack of shivers but to no avail. Jean saw right through his feeble attempt. “Too cold for you Arlet?”
“I can handle it.”
It was Jean’s smirk that warmed Armin’s toes. “You don’t look like you can.”
Armin glared and huffed sharply. His annoyance turned his voice sour. “I’d rather not listen to you speak if you aren’t saying anything meaningful.”
As Armin made a move to dive back under his freezing blanket, Jean’s hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder. The warmth of it radiated even through Armin’s clothes and the stupid blanket. “Armin -” Armin only looked at him in acknowledgement. Jean’s eyebrows were drawn in something between concern and confusion. “I won’t say anything if you want to share a blanket.”
Armin’s eyebrow twitched. “Is that a promise for afterwards or during?”
“Both,” Jean said. His quiet chuckle was muffled by his blanket.
“As long as it’s a promise.”
A moment passed before Jean slowly nodded. He silently lifted up his blanket and Armin shuffled himself inside like human cocoon. As Jean’s arm wrapped around him and Armin buried himself into Jean’s chest, he could feel the warmth returning to his body.
Jean’s breathing deepened and when it had reached a point that was almost snoring, Armin said, “Thanks,” as quietly as he could. The smug little smirk on Jean’s face told him that Armin was very welcome to share a blanket anytime he liked.
At least, Armin thought, huddling for warmth with someone as insufferable as Jean didn’t force his pride down his throat as sharply as it would've if Armin had taken Eren's offer. At least Jean wasn’t going to tell anybody. At least Armin was warm and happy. Armin let himself fall asleep, warm. Whatever was left of his pride could wait - at least until sunrise.