Valedictorian | Armin Arlert

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He was unresponsive, looking past you, at something over your shoulder. You cranked your neck behind you and then back at Armin. You couldn't detect anything out of the ordinary, so why did Armin act like he saw a ghost?

"Is there something on my face?" you joked. His face didn't even flicker at the quip, "Armin...?"

"W– we have to go?" Armin seemed breathless, out of nowhere. "Now."

"What?" Without speaking, he darted in the other direction. You stood still, not looking behind you. "Armin, what's wrong," you sped up to him. His eyes seemed bloodshot as he avoided looking at you.

You followed out of the lobby as his pace seemed to get exponentially faster as he got closer to the car. Thoughts raced through your mind, was it something you had said? You'd been trying hard to distance yourself from getting too close to Armin, so it could be possible that you said something to upset him. Guilt treaded through your chest, even though you weren't one to jump to conclusions.

He cleared his throat and managed a, "Can you... please just take me home."

You knew something was wrong but forcing him to tell you didn't seem right. Without hesitation, you nodded, "Are you sure," you reasoned, "you seem pretty upset..." He didn't have anyone at home, which worried you. You didn't want him all alone. 

"Please," he pleaded.

"Yeah, of course," you unlocked the doors for the two of you to get in. Once you and Armin were side by side, you noticed his hands shaking, but the rest of his body was completely still. "Is it... uh, because we sat in the top rows in the theater?" You internally facepalmed.

He shook his head, looking at you funny when you suggested it. "It's not you, (Y/N)..."

You internally let out a large sigh of relief. "You don't have to tell me what happened if you don't want to..."

Armin nodded. "Thanks, (Y/N)."

"Sure thing..." That wasn't going to stop you from worrying.

You pulled into his driveway, his house was completely dark and you were certain it was as hollow as it seemed. You bit your bottom lip and nervously watched as Armin reconciled his belongings.

"Are you doing anything tomorrow morning?" You asked.

Armin blinked. When he spoke his voice seemed fragile, it was overwhelmed with grief. "I guess not..."

"Well, it seems pretty lonely in there... all by yourself..." you gulped, "and I know you're probably struggling... I mean, financially."

"Thanks for reminding me, (Y/N)," deadpanned Armin.

"No! No, no, I mean you can stay at my place if you want." Your words sped up to fill in any gaps of confusion. "It's just out of compassion– you know, I don't wanna be to be inappropriate given you have a–" He immediately cut you off before you said another word.

"–I don't need pity." He insisted, looking exhausted.

"Armin–"

"But thank you, (Y/N)." He smiled. "It means a lot and I mean it. Even though we can tear each other down sometimes, I wouldn't want anyone other than you doing it."

"I don't want to tear you down, Armin," you muttered. "And truthfully, I've never known somebody who makes me feel so alive!"

"W– what?"

"I didn't think my genius had a use other than to beat you with it," you said bluntly. "How ironic it was that you showed me otherwise? In other words... I don't want to tear you down Armin."