♡︎𝑨𝑶𝑻 𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑷 𝑶𝑵𝑬-𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑻𝑺♡︎

Armin x Eren: Dark Colours

The brunette stumbles out of the mess hall furiously, slamming the door behind him as he continues. After that whole ordeal with Jean, he'd thought that nothing could make him any angrier, yet the sight of Armin sitting on the steps of the building takes the cake. He looks miserable, staring down at his hands and shoulders slouched; it riles up Eren all the more.

He demands emotionally as he approaches Armin, "what did that jerk do to you?"

Looking up at him, the blonde gives a weak expression in return. "Eren..."

"Say the word and I'll beat his horse-face in! Acting crappy to me, I'll take, but you?" Eren continues, his fists tightening. "That's way too far. I'm gonna-!"

"Don't," Armin states firmly. "I'm fine."

"You always say you're fine, and you never are!"

"And you always fight my battles for me," he replies, though the words are direct they are delivered with a slow, shy tone. "Please, just let him calm down and I'll talk to him."

"What do you want me to do then?"

Armin looks up at him and simply moves his gaze to the step beside him. Taking his gesture with little hesitance, Eren sits down beside him.

"It wasn't a big deal. I just... reacted to it, for some reason. I'm sorry for bothering you," the blonde states gently. "But don't hurt Jean because of me. Please."

"Okay, okay, fine. You have my word." He sighs. "I just... I can't just stand around and watch you get hurt like that."

"I'm fine." Armin presses his hand on top of his; the movement is jarring enough to have Eren's head turn to the side in surprise. Their eyes meet, locking together as if studying one another. "Look at me, I'm fine."

The brunette holds his gaze for a second longer than he should've; his mind loses all semblance of reality and time while lost in the deep, blue pupils. There's something so warm about Armin's stare, something so comforting and alive. He turns his face away, pointing his gaze away at the ground while his hand stays in the same very place as before- in the boy's grasp.

"Okay," Eren mumbles to himself. "I get it." He pauses for a long while, sitting in silence with Armin as they both hold on to the calm of the moment. "Why did he go off at you, anyway?"

"I was having a laugh with Connie and we brought up his mother by accident. When he heard the joke, I took the fall for Connie and said I made it up. Jean was mad, so he started yelling."

"Why did you take the blame?"

"It seemed like the most moral thing to do."

Eren raises a brow. "But, you said Connie was in the wrong just as much as you."

"I didn't want him to go down with me," he answers with zero emotion in his voice. It's plain and simple, as orderly as lessons told by an educator. "I'd rather I get punished alone than the both of us."

"Why?"

Armin shrugs, answering softly, "I don't know."

"Come on, Armin, you're one of the smartest people I know. Why can't you figure it out?"

He raises his gaze up to meet Eren's, suddenly surprised. "You think I'm smart?"

"Of course. Your plans save us from danger constantly. Why can't you see that too?" Eren's expression weakens, turning to a slight frown. "I don't get it."

Armin considers his answer for a long time, pausing for several seconds to come to a conclusion. The question is vague, rippling in the back of his mind to send countless new thoughts spiraling his way. It's an idea that he takes time to wrap his head around, tapping into the bare psychology of himself to get to the root of it. Where this all started and why. Yet, all this searching leaves is a melancholic, sinking sensation over his mind. No matter what angle he views the question, the answer is always the same.

"Well, I guess it's because-"

Just as he opens his mouth to state a depressive litany, the door of the mess hall pulls open, causing a sharp noise that cuts through his thoughts. Both boys look up and turn their heads to the side, catching Mikasa's illuminated figure in front of a brightly lit doorway.

"Mikasa," Eren says, his focus returning on the events at hand.

"The scouts brought out meat to celebrate," she answers calmly. "You'll want to come inside before Sasha nicks it all." And with that, the girl darts back inside the building.

After the abrupt interruption, the two turn back to look at each other.

"You were saying?" asks Eren, his expression concerned.

The blonde shakes his head adamantly. "Don't worry." He shines a forced grin as he stands back up. "Come on, let's join everyone."

Eren stares up at his blissful expression, confused by its sudden appearance, yet hopeful at the sight of it. He shrugs his shoulders in reluctance before getting to his feet as well.

"Alright."