tactitan }
Right about now, he’s starting up a small debate in his mind. He’s pretty good at picking out liars from the bunch, it’s been a trait that he’s always carried, reading people being one of his specialties. But… there was something about Armin’s claims that made him seem so goddamn genuine. The lashing out that came with his abuse of the younger boy was so genuine that it confused Joseph. What the hell was this kid’s deal? From his reaction…
He didn’t have anything to hide. So why did Joseph get such a bad feeling just from looking at this kid’s face? He couldn’t even remember anything, so what the fuck was going on? Absolute disgust is gonna cross his expression before he squeezes down again. You’re not clear just yet, buddy. At this point, his confusion is the one making him upset, not Armin.
"Yeah? Well that don’t change the fact that you’re a piece of shit. What are you gonna do about it? Hit me? Go ahead, punk!! I’ll punt ya across the street!”
"Agh!" His fingers pried at Joseph's, desperately scrabbling to remove him so maybe he could...escape. He was worried. Worried that here--here was where one wrong word could snap his neck.
"I-I'm not going to hit you! That won't solve anything!" Especially not if he's gonna get his ass kicked even harder for it. "You're...you're the punk! Why are you picking on someone who can't defend themselves?" Yes, Armin, put yourself down. "Th-that just makes you the lower person, doesn't it?"
But, for some reason, he didn't absolutely believe that he was defenseless, here. The words were true and he meant them, but something in the back of his mind was trying to alert him to ... something. Something. For the life of him, he didn't know what. So he just...waited for Joseph's judgement to be passed. Waited to see what his words had won him.
