#reihitch

He thought of having breakfast, but the thought of food made him queasy. The thought of going out and looking for her, calling her name, giving her the piece he made, and kissing her until his lungs burst— flipped in his mind, again and again. However, if she wanted some time alone, then he should leave her be.

But he couldn’t ignore how their steps fell unsynced as they walked side by side, their rhythm off.

Annie didn’t look at him, not even a glance. 

It was hard enough to not look at her when she was in a red dress. A dress that started from her knee up, flowing until it reached her waist, fitting around it like petals of a rose, while the fabric hugged her chest and went up until it ended in a short, draped sleeve.

He wanted to stomp his feet, scream and shout, do anything, but please Annie look at me!

He shoved it down, the feeling clogging in his stomach, as he forced himself to keep walking.

Soon enough, they were knocking on Mr. Leonhart’s door.

A moment right before the door clicked open, Annie hooked her arm in Armin’s, he didn’t have time to react or question it.

Instead of being greeted by Mr. Leonhart, Pieck poked her head out the door. 

“Oh hey you guys! We’ve been waiting for you!” Pieck said, stepping aside, making way for the couple to enter.

Usually, Armin is the one to speak, but he was too stunned to utter a word.

“Pieck,” Annie said, and the usual talk, as if nothing happened, made Armin fight against his widening eyes. “I’m glad to see you here.”

“Likewise,” Pieck replied, her smile wider than usual. Armin stepped in the house, Annie by his side.

Annie had told Armin the day prior, before their fight, that her father was holding a dinner, but he didn’t expect that many people to be there.

He couldn’t see the wall from across the room because of the numerous guests, some were his friends, some he acquainted, and some people he never saw before.

Her father’s house was a nice place. A one-story house with a garden. Humble furniture. Simple. But it was small to occupy that number of guests.

He spotted Reiner leaning against a wall, talking to a lady, in a flowery dress, and shiny hair, when he got a closer look, he gaped; it was Hitch.

She looked at him, and he didn’t realize that he called her name out loud.

She basically ran to them, flinging one arm over Armin, the other over Annie, squealing and perhaps saying something.

When her squeals calmed down, Armin finally understood what she was saying, “It’s been so long oh my God I missed you so much when was the last I even saw you Armin why are you no longer writing for me Annie you finally used that hair clip it looks gorgeous on you!”

“Yeah”, Armin answered.

Annie touched the hair clip in her hair, shaped like a red rose that went along with her dress. She seemed to get over what Hitch just vomited, or maybe she was too used to her former roommate, “Hitch I’m so glad we could meet, to be honest I didn’t expect to see you here, how are you?”

“I’m good! You two moved in together, right?” Hitch asked, too enthusiastic.

Annie looked at Armin, a small smile on her lips, giving him his turn to answer.

“Uh yeah, a few months ago, a cabin not too far from here,” he answered, half of his mind in his words, the other half thinking of Annie’s change in demeanor, “we’d like to have you there someday, it’s a nice place.”

“I’d love that! And-”

Before she could vomit another bucket of words, Mr. Leonhart appeared from behind Armin, clasping his hand on his shoulder. 

“Oh there you are! I’ve been waiting for you! What took you so long?”

In a second, Annie was in her father’s arms, kissing him on both cheeks, engulfing him with a second hug, “The walk to here took a bit longer than usual,” she said, “right, Armin?” 

Ah

He understood.

She didn’t want her father to know they had a fight.

“Oh yeah, I guess we were a bit slower than usual,” Armin answered, shaking hands with Mr. Leonhart. The man’s grip was as tight as ever, shaking Armin’s hand as if he’s giving him his will, or trusting him with something.

“You know, you both can always move here with me, I have an extra room, besides, it’s closer to town-”

“Father,” Annie interrupted him softly, with a smile, “we know, thank you.”

He smiled back, before he motioned around the room, telling them to enjoy themselves as dinner would be served soon.

Each time they met him, he offered the extra room he had, and asked them if they would like to move in. Armin understood, it must’ve been hard to let go of his daughter.

Armin wondered if he would experience the feeling one day, the protection over your daughter… 

He shivered, glancing at Annie, their hands still linked.

At that moment, Armin spotted Connie and Jean, he tugged his arm to get Annie’s attention, but before she even did, Hitch had already snatched her from him, putting an arm over Annie’s shoulder, and walking away.

Armin couldn’t help the smile growing on his face, Annie’s friendship with Hitch was something else.

“Armin!” Connie called.

The smile on Armin’s face grew even wider.

Connie and Jean looked like they always did, Connie flashing goofy smiles, and Jean slicking back his hair that he so obviously spent hours on, putting every single hair in its desirable place. But Jean looked… different, something about his fidgety feet, and his hands that he couldn’t keep in one place for more than three seconds.

Armin wanted to ask him if everything was alright, but Connie had already swept him in a talk about an idea of a business he’s trying to establish.

As Connie rambled on and on about far too many details, Armin’s eyes wandered around.

He saw Pieck’s family, Gabi and Falco with their families as well. Reiner and Connie’s mothers. Levi on his wheelchair. And other people whom he had no idea who they were.

There were too many guests for a simple dinner.

His eyes wandered farther, until he finally saw her.

Mikasa, sitting on a chair by herself, sipping from a cup, looking around, before her gaze focused on the cup.

Armin patted Connie on his shoulder, apologizing and telling him he would be back in a second to hear all about his business, before he made his way to her.

He sat down on the couch beside her, she didn’t recognize his presence until he called out her name.

“Armin,” she said, her voice tendering like it always did when she called his name. “I was waiting for you, how are you?”

“I’m fine, what about you?”

“I’m ok,” she replied.

She wasn’t.

Her eyelids drooped low on her eyes, the black bags underneath her eyes stark against her pale skin. Her shoulders slumped in, caged on herself.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

She looked at him, and pivoted, “No, you tell me what’s wrong.”

“Huh?” he raised his eyebrows, baffled.

“What happened between you and Annie?”

Oh

Of course she’d notice.

"Nothing, really," he answered, avoiding her eyes.

"Tell me."

He knew Mikasa so well that she wouldn't back off easily. When Armin was hurt, she was ready to strike. But the fatigue covering her features worried him as well.

"How about you tell me first?" He said, crossing his legs.

"No," was her immediate, concise answer.

"Come on, Mikasa, I know something is wrong."

Hesitance, he sensed the hesitance prior to a confession.

He uncrossed his legs, leaning with his elbows on his knees, his voice dropping to a little bit higher than a whisper.

"You can tell me, what's wrong?"

Mikasa pressed her lips, her eyes darting around the room, settling on her hands resting on her lap, before she shifted closer to Armin.

She whispered so low that Armin had to strain his neck forward to hear her right.

"There's… someone... a guy that I've met, and..." She looked up, meeting his eyes. A smile appeared on her face as fast as it faded, before tilting her head down again, "And I just, you know, I don't know, I just, I don't think I should get myself into anything right now, but… I also-"

"Mikasa," Armin called, she looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. He reached for her, resting his hand on her knee, giving it a squeeze, "I'm happy for you," he said, a smile seeping into his voice, "I'm really happy for you."

Mikasa blinked, "You are?"

"Of course!" He said, leaning back in his chair, "of course I am! That's great Mikasa! When can I meet him?"

Mikasa's lips parted, mouthing the question Armin asked, once, twice, before she said, “I think it's still a bit early for that… but maybe… soon?"

“I can't wait," he answered, smiling, genuinely smiling, his smile contagious, making its way to Mikasa's lips, her face lit up with relief. 

He wanted to let her know that it was alright to find someone, it was alright to think of yourself, it was alright to just move on.

"Alright," she said, her shoulders visibly relaxing, the contours between her eyebrows unwrinkling, "now, what's up?" she nudged her head to where Annie stood.

"Just a dumbass fight, you know?" He answered, shrugging.

"Is it something serious?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.

"No, I promise," he said, looking at Annie from across the room, Hitch beside her, just talking and talking, Annie listening with a small smile on her lips.

"Besides," he said, "I will make everything right tonight." He didn't think of it before, but he knew it, and was adamant to fix everything. He touched his pocket, feeling a circle of metal.

Mikasa knew Armin long enough to decipher each glance, look, or touch, and when she watched his scrutinizing eyes on Annie, she knew that everything between them would be fine.

But, his eyes.

Those eyes

When they looked at Annie, Mikasa could swear they would shine, almost twinkling.

The way he looked at her differentiated from any other way he looked at anyone else.

She wondered what went inside his head, besides the countless questions she itched to ask, when did he fall for Annie? And what did he do when he realized his emotions for her? 

She smiled.

Their story should be engraved in stone, Mikasa thought, a story for generations to come, a story of patience, understanding, and pain. 

A story of tears, betrayal, hurt, but also trust, and love.

A story everyone should learn from.

As well as Mikasa herself.

Across the room, Annie could feel his eyes on her, and she wanted to stride across the room, hold his face in her hands, and kiss him, in front of everyone, she couldn't care less.

But stubbornness came in the way.

She knew this rift would be over as fast as it started, they would laugh about it, and they would get stronger than before.

For now, she gave Hitch half of her attention, nodding at almost everything she said, her mind whirling in her skull. That was until Hitch said something that couldn't get past Annie's ears.

"Hmmm?" Annie asked.

"That dude, the bulky huge one," Hitch said, nudging her head. Annie followed her motion and-

"Oh, yeah the one you were talking to when we arrived, that's Reiner." She answered, looking back at Hitch.

Hitch gasped, “The same dude who wrote to you when we were roommates?”

Annie nodded.

"And?" Hitch inquired, her neck craning forward in anticipation.

"And what?" Annie asked, genuinely confused.

Hitch groaned, throwing back her head. She loudly whispered, "And what what? Him, I'm asking about him, do you not get it?"

"Hitch, I don't speak codes."

Hitch facepalmed, she memorized Annie's helplessness when it came to guys since their Military Police days, but this? Nah, this was far out of Hitch's league.

"I shouldn't be surprised, it took you long enough to even recognize Armin's feelings for you."

Annie swallowed. She needed to change the topic.

"The food is good here," she said, except that, well, they didn't have any food yet. 

Hitch raised a confused eyebrow.

"Is your dad the cook?" Hitch inquired.

"Uh, no, of course not, unless you guys wanna have military food."

Hitch laughed, and Annie was grateful that her slip up went unnoticed.

"Uh, may I get your attention please."

Annie, with everyone else, looked at the center of the room, Jean stood there, fidgeting, alternating his weight from one feet to the other.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have, uh, an announcement," he continued.

Annie looked around the room, and by the look on everyone's faces, no one knew about this. Even Armin, when she glanced at him, he looked just as surprised as everyone else.

Until her eyes landed on her father, who smiled knowingly at Jean.

"I… uh, I'm sorry, we're sorry, we didn't… tell you about this before… but, uh, this is... Alright so this is not actually a dinner, I mean, no wait, technically it is a dinner," he stopped, his words not making sense to his own ears, he pinched the edge of his nose, breathing deeply.

"Basically," another voice joined, everyone swiveled their heads— Pieck.

With floating steps, she started towards Jean, and even though her words spoken to everyone, her eyes only held his.

"Basically," she repeated, "this is an engagement party."

A few what's and huh's erupted from the group, which only made Pieck chuckle.

She made her way beside Jean, intertwining their hands together, before she leaned on his shoulder, and said, "This is Jean and I's engagement party!"

For a few seconds, the room turned dead-silent, a few people, including Armin, involuntarily stood up, gaping at the newly engaged couple. Then a few oh my God's and a couple of louder what's echoed in the room, before someone started clapping, someone else shouted yes!! 

Then everyone attacked them with hugs and kisses. Pieck's father cried, and Jean's mother comforted him as she dabbed at her own tears 

Annie blinked a few times, before she looked at Hitch, a big toothy grin on her face, and Annie couldn’t help but return that smile. 

Soon enough, they made their way to Pieck. Annie hugged her, taken aback by Pieck’s tight embrace, which Annie tried to turn back. Annie never saw Pieck smiling as wide as she did, the tips of her mouth stretched up, her cheeks pink, and her eyes wide and shining. 

Jean’s happiness was more subtle. His excitement equaled Pieck’s, but he was more fidgety, shy and blushy.

Annie stepped out of the bundle of hugs. She walked to an empty corner, looking for Hitch, but then she saw her by Reiner’s side, playing with her hair, swaying her hips. Annie sighed, now she knew what Hitch meant.

Annie scrutinized Reiner’s expression… he didn’t seem bothered by Hitch, in fact, he listened intently. Annie made a note in her mind to tease him about it later.

She looked around the room, saw her father talking to Jean's mom and Pieck’s father, she wondered how it came that he is the one holding this party for them. She shook her head, wondering how he kept it from her as well. 

Then her eyes met his.

Armin.

He was already watching her, a small smile on his face.

She looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and why does my face feel hot all of a sudden?

Of course she wasn’t marrying anytime soon. 

Of course not.

Annie swallowed, walked around the room, trying to find anyone to talk to.

She bumped into Mikasa.

“Annie,” Mikasa said, “can you believe this?” she asked, pointing a finger over her shoulder, where Jean and Pieck were still receiving congratulations and hugs.

“It was a surprise, I didn’t see it coming,” Annie said honestly, before she leaned forward and whispered, “they’ve been dating for… what? Two years?”

“A year and a half,” Mikasa corrected, “but, it’s not about dating for a year or ten, if you find them, you’ll know, deep down you’ll know.”

Annie didn’t know how to respond, so she awkwardly swiped her feet on the carpeted floor.

“Besides,” Mikasa continued, a small smile pulling at her lips, “you never know who's next,” then she winked and turned.

A layer of cold sweat suddenly coated Annie’s hands, she wiped them on her dress, before she blew air, fanning her hands in front of her face, feeling suddenly hot.

A few feet away, Mikasa’s smile only grew wider.

~~~~

The party stretched into the late evening hours. The newly engaged couple in the spotlight, talking about marriage, and answering a few awkward questions about kids.

Annie held her grounds and didn't talk to Armin yet, she tried to not glance at him, only stealing glimpses of him every now and then, whipping her head away if she accidentally met his eyes.

He would look away and bite off a smile. 

If they were in their cabin, she would've probably hugged him from behind, kissed the spot between his shoulder blades, then rubbed her forehead against his back, until he turned around and kissed her lips.

She would show him the words she wished she could speak.

But at that moment, they were surrounded by dozens of people, and that tied their hands behind their backs.

It didn't help that Annie looked spectacularly beautiful. And that hair clip that Hitch gave her… it suited her too well, as if it was made specifically for her.

His eyes followed her when she turned her back, watching every move of her hands, fingers.

Suddenly, at the center of the room, Jean was pushed by Connie, whistles erupting from the crowd, as Jean knelt on one knee, pulling a red velvety box.

Pieck threw her head back and laughed. He already proposed before, but he wanted to make it official with everyone as a witness.

Connie shushed the guests, and everyone held their breaths.

“Uh,” Jean started, and Pieck giggled. He took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and started again, “Pieck-”

“Yes!” Pieck squealed, crouching down to him, pulling him from his collar into a kiss.

He was taken aback, almost falling. Laughter emitted from around the room with a couple of awww’s and aah’s.

Soon enough, Pieck and Jean were on their feet, sliding rings around each other’s fingers.

Armin watched and smiled, his hand dabbed on his pocket, tracing the ridges of a small circular metal.

He sighed, closed his eyes for a second.

When he reopened his eyes, Annie vanished from his sight.

As if earth split and swallowed her whole.

At first, his eyebrows frowned, searching for her, but then, he stood up, walked around the living room where the small party was held.

He ignored his worries for a minute, but then they could no longer be ignored.

He spotted Mikasa on a couch, he leaned closer to her and asked her if she saw Annie.

She pointed with her thumb at a door.

Armin had been to Mr. Leonhart's house many times before, and he knew where that door led, to a small corridor with multiple doors on each side of it.

And there he stood, after he closed the corridor's door behind him, trying to choose which door to open.

The door right in front was Mr. Leonhart's bedroom, of that he was sure, and the door to the left was the guests' bathroom, but there were two doors to the right.

Maybe one room was the storage room, the other… the guests' bedroom? He couldn't remember.

So, he walked to it, then stilled.

He raised his fist to knock on the door, when it was suddenly opened-

He was dragged inside by his shirt, inciting a loud yelp from him. He almost tripped on his feet, but in a second, the door behind him was slammed shut, and he was pushed against the wall.

"What-"

But his words were swallowed as lips fell upon his, moving against him frantically.

He didn't have to open his eyes to know who that was, he memorized her lips as if they were his own.

So, without holding back, pushing questions to the back of his mind, his hands landed on her hips, caressing her back up and down, as he kissed her with equal passion.

He wanted to pull back, take a breather, and know what the hell was going on, this sudden change, but he was too lost in her taste. Her scent intoxicated his senses, as she pressed her frame into his, until there was not a hair-thin space between them.

"Annie," he moaned against her lips, his hands around her body firm, decided. The heat in his body inched closer to a risky line, a line that if he crossed, there won't be going back.

She panted, her breath coming in short huffs, she murmured against his lips, "Took you," a gasp, "long enough to notice that," a pause, "I was gone."

He squeezed her back, earning a sigh from her, "I can't guess, with your game."

"You're in trouble."

"Am I?"

She dipped her head under his chin, and kissed his neck, sucked and licked.

He arched his body into her, holding her tighter. Her nips were getting harsher, certainly a mark to leave for later.

She did this for him many times, stroked his weak spots, made him crumble on his spot. And she knew it, she just knew the effects she had on him.

He gave all of himself to her.

She made a humming sound from her throat that was far from quiet, and that was the last trigger for him.

In one swift motion, he switched their positions, locking her between himself and the wall, but she didn't mind, perhaps she didn't even notice, for she lurched forward, searching for his lips again.

He gently separated them, pushing her shoulders into the wall, her eyes forced open in question.

Her eyelid hooded over her eyes, lips glistened, and her cheeks dusted with rose pink, and he was this close to capture her lips again. Let everyone outside listen, let them hear, he didn't give a damn.

But the logical apprehensive person he was, he stopped himself.

"You're too loud," he whispered, panting.

"I'm not," she retorted.

To prove his point, he pressed his knee against her. She moaned, loud.

He raised an eyebrow at her, she turned her head, her face glowing red. But she wasn't to be stopped there, she wasn't done with him.

She knew him too well, learnt his weaknesses by heart.

She gently pushed him away, sighing in a way that meant ok whatever you win.

And so he turned away, headed to the door, but then he heard a zipper, followed by the quiet, unimpressive thud of clothes falling to the ground.

He closed his eyes, and sighed.

He was too scared to turn around, he knew exactly the sight he'd find if he turned around. 

If only she didn't know him that well.

She watched his back, the crisp white shirt snug around his shoulders, his trousers fitting him perfectly, she could almost feel his short hair on her fingers.

He clenched his fists, unclenched it, clenched it again.

One

Two

Three-

He turned around. Her smirk grew wider.

He found exactly what he imagined in his mind, his eyes falling to the red dress crumpled on the floor, up her legs, her thighs, her stomach-

And he didn't hold back, he marched the few steps separating them as he flung his arms around her, sparks going up his spine when his hands made contact with her bare skin, his lips moving against hers.

His hands went over the skin he was so familiar with, already knowing every ridge of her. Her skin turned a bright red in his fingers' trace, igniting a path of heat and desire.

She gave it back to him, running her fingers through his hair, sighing against his lips, massaging his shoulders.

He wondered how far they could go. The party was still going on, and the king-sized bed in the room tempted him enough. 

His hands went down, squeezing her hips, caressing her thighs-

Annie's breath hitched in her throat, Armin pulled back.

They heard footsteps.

"You locked the door," Annie whispered, hopeful.

He shook his head.

Her eyes widened.

The footsteps grew louder, and louder, until the door was flung open and-

"Oh, Annie."

"Hi Mikasa."

A beat of silence.

Mikasa scrutinized Annie, sitting on the bed, bare foot, her legs crossed.

"Um, is everything ok?" Mikasa asked, taking a step inside the room.

Annie nodded, "Perfectly fine, just needed to take a rest," Annie fanned her face with an open palm.

"Oh… um, we're having the cake, so, uh, I thought… have you seen Armin?"

"Hmmm?" Annie asked, her eyes briefly glanced at the spot concealed by the opened door. "Nope."

"Oh, ok," Mikasa took a step backwards, "well, um, if you wanna join-"

"Sure I'll be there in a minute," Annie answered.

"Ok," Mikasa turned away, closing the door, but before it was completely shut, she reopened it again, "oh and Annie?"

"Yes?"

"Um, just make sure to, uh, your dress, ok?" Mikasa tugged at her collar, before she went out, and closed the door.

Annie looked down at her dress-

Inside out.

She wore it inside-out.

She heard his muffled laughs, and when she looked at him, he had his hand on his mouth, as he crumbled to the ground.

She took the pillow from the bed and threw it at him, to which he captured easily.

He walked to her, still in a fit of giggles, as he helped her out of her dress, leaving faint kisses on her skin.

She put it on again, making sure it was right, then Armin closed up the zipper, placed one single kiss at her neck.

~~~~

They made sure to leave the room separately, embarrassed enough that Mikasa almost caught them red handed. They didn't interact much nor did they get close to each other throughout the rest of the party, they knew that proximity would make them misbehave again.

Two hours went as slow as a snail.

They didn't want to be the first to leave, so they waited, and finally, Gabi and Falco's families called it a night.

They followed suit.

At the door, when Mr. Leonhart saw them out, he shook Armin's hand exceptionally firm, looked into his eyes as if he wanted to nonverbally communicate words to Armin.

Armin imagined tears in Mr. Leonhart's eyes. He probably got emotional after Pieck and Jean's engagement announcement, and perhaps, he imagined Annie in Pieck's shoes…

Armin swallowed.

It wasn't like he didn't think of the idea before, his hand briefly touching his pocket...

They left together, hand in hand, feet falling in sync as they made their way to their home.

Their steps got faster, in a hurry, as they remembered why they wanted to leave in the first place.

Once the door closed behind them, they didn't wait to get to the bedroom. Hands frantically taking off each other's clothes, gripping at the fabric. Soon enough, their living room was adorned with a red dress and a white shirt.

But they made it to the bedroom, the springs of the mattress bouncing as they landed on it, gripping on each other, touching each other frantically.

Skin on skin. Armin ran his mouth all over her body, kissing, nipping, and sucking, tasting her, savoring the delightful taste of her. She moaned and squirmed, but his hands fixed her in her place.

Her hands failed to touch him, each time she tried to reach for him he would push her hands away, focusing on his work, and soon enough she gave up, letting him take her to places and show her sights she couldn't imagine seeing without his touch, without his tongue.

Pleasure took over her senses, her tongue knotted, only moans and groans leaving her mouth as she tried to not bounce on him and fix him in his place.

But he had his own pleasure while pleasuring her, like an honor. To touch Annie Leonhart, to be this intimate and close to her. He'd never waste a chance. His hand taking care of himself, trying to relieve some of the tension in his abdomen, while focusing on her.

The hand between his legs didn't go unnoticed by Annie. Watching him trying to pleasure himself while he took care of her…

She flailed her hands at him, and squirmed against his touches, and he gave up, letting her touch him like she wished.

And they were lost in a bundle of pleasure, moans, and gasps, setting their bodies to the rhythm of their hearts.

They gasped each other's names as they moved together, their movements getting sloppier and messier as they tiptoed towards the edge, which wasn't far off.

Tipping each other over the edge was like a challenge that both were determined to win. They tossed and turned, grinding, working themselves on each other.

Annie didn't hold back, her moans loud and almost embarrassing, but the louder she got the more enthusiasm Armin put in his act. It was a give and take of an intimate moment they only shared with each other.

When their motion got even more hectic, they knew they were close. And not long after, they were gripping on each other, groaning and whimpering, as they reached the end line. Pleasure inundated their senses as they rode down their high, lost in an ecstasy of bursting spasms all over their bodies and minds.

When their heartbeats calmed down, Armin was about to roll off her, but in one swift motion, she turned him around, clasping him between her thighs, not giving him a break, their night only starting.

She told him the things she wanted to do to him, loud and clear, as she tied her hair up in a bun, her hips dipping low enough to tease him but not enough to satisfy him. He listened, tried to contain himself, but then he broke. 

He arched his back and tried to touch her, but her fast reflexes caught his hands and pinned them above his head.

And so he couldn't do anything but curl his toes as she bewitched him with her touches, stroking him and skimming over his velvety skin. She made him shudder, and he crumbled underneath her and shivered when her touches became intense and ready to bring them to their second wave of ecstasy.

They were vulgar when it came to this, not shy in the slightest to express what they wanted and how they wanted it, and when Armin told her exactly what he desired, where he wished to be, she stilled, watching him apprehensively.

His blue eyes mended with the dark room around them, a dark ocean wave fueled with lust and desire, a look she didn't discover until she had him. 

She wasn't aware that her eyes matched his, dark and deep, with an addition to her chest turning pink.

She wanted what he wanted.

So she sat it in motion, intense and rough, fiery, and vigorous. She fixed him down when he tried to switch them, only to get more intense and wilder, and he submitted to her will, reaching his peak with increasing speed.

She bounced on his lap, and he laid there, bewitched with her body, skin, and the power she had on him. One touch and he would be on his knees, one command and he would beg for more.

The best part of it was that her bouncing only got more intense as she noticed his eyes scaling her body up and down. Usually he would kiss every part of her as praises fell off his tongue. She looked down at him, the only sounds leaving his mouth were lustful moans and groans. She had him beneath her, and they had plenty of time to go slow and be romantic, but the fire between her legs needed to be extinguished, and the solution was him.

She gasped, tumbling on Armin, dragging themselves into another explosion of pleasure, muscles contracting as their moans lingered, too sensitive. 

She rested her head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Their breathing calmed down to match a harmony of chests rising and falling, as they listened to each other's heartbeats.

Annie left a soft kiss on his chest before she rolled off him, landing beside him, resting her hand on his chest where she kissed him.

He closed his eyes, and Annie watched his face. She thought he was falling asleep and that they were done for the night. Well, her body was sore and eyelids heavy, and it was already past midnight.

Her eyelids started closing, when he suddenly opened his eyes. He looked at her, sleep drooping over her eyes, he smiled. He kissed her to wake her up a little.

"Annie," he called her name.

"I want to sleep," she said, nuzzling her head in his chest. 

He chuckled, kissing her forehead, "I need to ask you something."

At that, Annie woke up.

Sleep departed her eyes in a second, and she swallowed.

Could he ask…

No, no way, stop imagining stuff, there's no way he would-

"Are you sure this is the right time?" The question left her mouth before she pondered over it. After all, if he really wanted to ask that question, being in bed, naked, wouldn't be how she imagined it.

Maybe on a picnic by the beach, or under a tree, to get on one knee and-

"Are we… fine?" He asked.

Annie blinked.

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean… you know, are we fine?"

Annie understood his question from the very first time, it was just that… she expected something else.

"I… you don't think so?" She answered his question with a question, a part from her cursing herself for these far off imaginations.

"I just… want to make sure..."

"Armin, I'm here."

"I know-"

"Naked, literally, right beside you, and you think we're not?" She said, then she huffed, tugging the blanket closer to her chin.

"I know, I just..." He sighed.

"I'm… it was all so stupid," she said, "I shouldn't have… I don't think…" Annie tried to explain, but she couldn't finish one single sentence.

Armin knew Annie enough to know that expressing herself wasn't her best skill, so he said, "I understand, but I want to show you something."

With that, he swung his legs off the bed and started looking for his trousers.

He cursed when he remembered that they were in a hurry and in fact, his trousers were in the living room. And so he left the bedroom, when he came back, with the trousers in his hand, he found Annie laughing.

"What is it?" He asked, a smile on his face as he heard Annie's contagious laugh.

"It's just funny that you're running around the cabin like that," she said, laughing again, as she pointed at him.

He didn't have to look down to know what she meant, he had nothing to cover his lack of modesty, and he couldn't help but laugh at Annie's childish joke.

The mattress dipped where he sat next to Annie, who propped herself on one elbow, watching him searching in one of his trousers' pockets. His eyes lit up when he touched something.

He turned to Annie and smiled, "Close your eyes."

She raised an eyebrow.

He chuckled, "Close your eyes, come on."

Annie sighed and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the rapid beating of her heart.

She felt him get closer, his scent all around her. Warm fingers circled around her neck, and she found herself pressed against his chest. His fingers worked on something behind her neck, and after a moment, he leaned back, leaving something cold dangling on her skin.

She waited for him to tell her to open her eyes, but he was way too lost in her, mesmerized by her. She laid on her side, propped on her elbow, blanket covering up to her waist. The blue moonlight soothing her face, caressing the blonde strands, framing her face like a painting in a museum, delicate and careful. Her eyes closed, pink lips and cheeks dusted with a lighter shade of pink. 

His eyes traveled down to her neck, where it glistened with dried sweat, and he could almost taste her, the softness of her neck's velvety skin conserved on his tongue.

The draping of the thin blanket on her body emphasized her curves, the dip in her hip, the curves of her thighs, adding a layer of soft edges to her, like a fluffy cloud in the sky. 

He could gaze at her for the rest of his life.

With an addition to the necklace around her neck.

Armin held his breath and whispered, “Open your eyes.”

Her eyelids fluttered open, blinking, before she touched around her neck.

Her fingers trailed upon a hair-thin chain, delicate, she looked down and-

A white, not bigger than a thumb nail seashell, dangled from the necklace. A simple seashell, really, white, shiny, but it took Annie’s breath away.

Her lips parted, she flipped the seashell in her hand, only to notice a writing inside it.

She glanced at Armin, who inspected her with an expecting look. 

Her eyes squinted as she read the small writing.

"AA," she murmured, she repeated it a few times, then looked up at Armin, only to see a red blush on his cheeks, as he fumbled with the rim of the blanket.

"You know," he said, "our initials, AA."

"Annie and Armin," she said, and she didn't know what else to say.

Annie's scrutinizing eyes worried Armin, maybe she thought of it as stupid, or she thought that he's just trying so hard for forgiveness.

"What does white mean?" She asked, looking into his eyes.

"Hmm?"

"The seashell is white, why did you choose a white one?" She elaborated, the tips of her fingers still around the seashell.

"Oh..." He was taken aback by her question, but then he smiled, inching closer to her. He placed one hand on her waist as he laid beside her, his face an inch away from hers.

He leaned closer, his lips beside her ear and whispered, "Safe." He kissed the tip of her ear, "Annie," he kissed her cheek, "safe," he kissed her nose, "you're my safe place, Annie."

The ocean rummaged in Annie's eyes, the waves mighty and mercilessly destructive, but when they met his, the vast ocean calmed.

She tilted her head up, capturing his lips. 

She tasted his smile as their jaws rolled together, lips connecting over and over again.

If she could, she would never leave his side, stay under the blanket with him, for he spread life into her veins, made her human again.

Her hands caressed over every inch of his skin she could reach, and she got closer, pressing her frame into his.

They fit perfectly together, pieces falling into place. They made each other whole, filling into the hollows of each other, soothing and healing.

His fingers traced her figure, caring, and he found it amusing, really, the capacity to have these emotions trapped in his heart, for he felt like exploding, and he wanted to let Annie know about these feelings, but he also knew Annie wasn't a woman of words.

His hands kneaded her back gently in question, and the heat that ignited in her body was the answer.

Their heat joined together, skin on skin, the blanket pushed to the edge of the bed, as their frantic moves started again, hands touching and caressing.

But that wasn't how she wanted it to go.

So she switched them, sitting on top, earning a gasp from him, then she gently pushed herself off him,

"Are you ok?" He asked, his cheeks red, and his heaving chest marked with her red fingers prints.

She hummed, before she leaned over him again, gently nipping at his neck, her hands on him light like a feather.

And he understood what she wanted, he smiled.

His hands mildly caressed her back, up and down, as she kissed his neck.

Their breathing calmed down, their thoughts easier to connect and comprehend, lust not interfering.

Not long after, Annie pulled away, rolling off him, onto her back. On his turn, he hovered over her.

When they went slow, he knew that she liked him over her, he knew that she liked it when his warmth inundated her, his body pressed into her.

He knew her.

He started with kissing her forehead, cheeks, nose, then ending with her lips, gentle, slow. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, sighed as his fingers trailed down her body.

Their touches soft and mild.

Just like their first time, on the boat, three years prior. When misery pushed tears out of their eyes, when they held each other for the first time, thinking it would be their last.

Their first time was soft, clumsy, but all the same, intense. They pleasured themselves through pain, confessed with regret lacing their voices. 

They never talk about their first time, for it brings tragic memories with it, but at those moments, when he was above her, surrounding her with warmth, they both remembered, but they never spoke of it.

They gasped as they moved, setting a rhythm to the harmony of the dark night, an unbreakable symphony of serenity.

He locked eyes with her, the necklace shiny as it shifted against the velvety skin of her neck. He moved and watched her face, contouring with bless. She tried to avert her eyes from him. The way he watched her made her abdomen clench and her face hot. 

But he wanted to look into her eyes.

And so he placed his elbows on each side of her head, trapping her beneath him. She sighed and looked into his eyes, the blush on her face only increasing.

But soon enough, she was too lost in his eyes to care about anything else. Giving him all of herself made her vulnerable, but with him, it was safe.

She trusted him with her life, and she trusted him with her heart.

He tiptoed them towards their pleasure, but it was different than earlier that night, slow and gentle. They took their time, their bodies too sensitive, eyes locked through it all.

They reached the edge together, Annie moaned, throwing her head against the pillow, but Armin captured her lips, swallowing down her delighted sounds.

It wasn't an explosion, something that went off inside of them within frantic hands and touches, it was more like a knot that was leisurely untied, threads loosening between soft fingers.

He bonelessly rested his weight on her, sweaty chests pressed against each other, and Annie was too tired to tell him to move.

"Another?" He joked and chuckled.

"I wish," she answered, her legs sprawled underneath him, then she nudged his shoulder.

"But I'm comfortable," He answered her nudge.

She rolled her eyes.

"I am, really," He continued, a smile in his voice, "it's warm and soft and-"

He accidentally moved, they both winced.

"Alright alright," he murmured, before he kissed her, slowly pulling out. She winced in his mouth, her thighs twitching, and he kissed her again reassuringly.

He rolled to the side, scooping her in his arms. She nuzzled her head in his chest.

A moment of silence passed while they listened to their heart beats.

"Thank you," she murmured, and when Armin looked at her, her eyes were barely open. He answered with a kiss on her eyebrow.

He watched her fall asleep in his arms, her breathing slowing. He rubbed a circle with his thumb on her skin, wondering how in the world he got to have Annie Leonhart.

His mind wandered to the trouser on the ground, inside it’s pocket sat a circular metal— a ring, adorned with one single shiny pearl. Tonight, he was supposed to get on one knee and ask her the question, but hesitance crawled in the last second and he maneuvered his way to his workshop, choosing to give her that white seashell necklace instead.

Tomorrow

He thought, as he hugged her closer, and drifted to sleep.

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I’m so sorry for taking this long to post here, on tumblr

I just feel like the fandom is pretty much dead here....? I’m really not sure anymore