𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 | 𝙴𝙹𝙰♡︎

Chapter 13: Triumph

After such a miraculous send-off, the trip to Eren's apartment is oddly tense. Very few words get shared between the two men, with only the mild tunes of a Michael Jackson playlist filtering through the dead car space. On any other day, the couple would banter about their dailies, Eren starting with a rant about all things constricting and Armin lending an ear. It was always that. Always.

Yet today, Armin's patient hesitation, waiting for his boyfriend to make any statement, is pointless. They drive into the cold night with a heavy silence. The blonde tilts his head, catching sight of Eren's side profile. Even from the crescent-moon side of his face, his expression is clear as day. Stiff and stoic.

Admittedly, it has Armin's heart beating away faster; that glare is strangely attractive.

No words are shared until they make it to Eren's apartment, pulling the door open with a gentle sound. Armin steps inside, glances around the familiar room and grasps at the scarf around his neck. In reaction, Eren stands before him and takes each of his hands mid-motion. They stop in place. The blonde looks up at him, eyes growing wide at the expression shown. Wicked, green eyes narrowed with eyebrows furrowed- he looks controlling. Dominant.

"I'll undress you," he states with a voice that cuts him all over, seeping the words into his skin.

Armin gulps. "Okay."

Eren turns, stepping away calmly, yet his boyfriend stays in the same position. He feels completely frozen. All sense has eroded away for Armin, as he's left feeling an assortment of new emotions. One thought remains regarding his newly dominant partner.

What is going on?

His eyes follow Eren, who steps behind the kitchen counters. On a hunt for something, his hands move to the various cabinets until reaching a destination. The objects he picks out are surprising- a shot glass and a bottle of whiskey. They're placed onto the counter with a resounding 'clack'. Armin stares at this strange setting; the brunette catches his gaze.

"For confidence," he states. His hands move delicately around the alcoholic drink. It pours in a slow motion, with the golden liquid flowing down from its bottle elegantly. He sparks a slight smile when he looks back at the man. "It looks like you could use one as well."

His response comes cautiously, "well..."

"Do you want to be completely sober for this?" Eren asks.

Armin can tell he's choosing his words very particularly. There are hints and implications, though nothing is made clear. Why he would need to take a shot of liquor before sex isn't explained to the blonde... yet he understands it.

"Do I?"

He hides his smile behind a stern mask. "I won't be making this easy."

The devious implications cloud Armin's judgement. His face burns, causing him to dart his gaze away awkwardly.

"Hah... you're acting weird."

Seeing that expression ignites something in Eren, a type of déjà vu. It's the same flustered expression he fell so deeply entranced by when they were first together when Eren would tell him innuendos to watch him blush or the teasingly affectionate motions to embarrass him. That expression hasn't sparked in a long time.

He raises the glass in his hand- the way one would during a toast. "Come on, baby. Let's start this with style."

Armin shifts his gaze back to him and takes a deep breath. Another inhibition is about to be knocked down. It's now or never.

He walks forward and meets his boyfriend at the counter.

"Alright. Let's... let's do it."

And they begin the night, each with a glass in hand.