Lucky | Reader x Armin

Chapter 20.

Sunlight streamed into the room and you basked in the glow. Finding it difficult to open your eyes. The first thing you noticed was that you were in bed alone. You weren't immediately sure why that was surprising to you until you noticed the second thing. That's right. You were at a hotel. You could feel the silky sheets that were entangled in your legs and the impossibly soft pillow beneath your head.

The third thing you realized, was that you had never opened the curtains fully, so why was so much sunlight coming in? You finally managed to bring the world into focus and you rubbed your eyes. Stretching your legs out and beginning to untangle them from the sheets, you looked at the window again, wondering if Armin had opened the curtains before he left that morning.

Then the fourth and final realization hit you. You scanned the room and your heart stopped when you saw someone sitting in one of the armchairs in the corner of the room. You sat up quickly and the man's eyes immediately lifted from his book to you. Once you recognized him you sighed in relief and flopped back down onto the bed.

"Good morning," Eren said, a smirk creeping across his face.

"You scared the shit out of me." You said. You hadn't recognized Eren at first. He was wearing his scout uniform today, which you had never seen him in before, and instantly made him about twice as handsome. His hair was also completely pulled back in a bun today besides a few loose strands that fell in front of his face.

"I noticed." He chuckled. "Didn't Armin tell you I'd be here?"

"He didn't say you'd be here before I even woke up." Your face flushed as you realized he was seeing you in your nightgown again. You pulled the sheets over yourself.

"No point in trying to be modest now. I think we're past that." He grinned.

"Sheesh thanks." You said, annoyed. Maybe you would ask Armin to fire him. You smiled a bit to yourself at the thought.

~ ~ ~

Once you were changed and your hair was tamed, Eren took you down to the lobby again so you could both get breakfast. You didn't like the idea of going down there again but Eren insisted. Once you were downstairs you found Mikasa and Sasha having breakfast as well and joined them.

As you might have predicted, Mikasa seemed almost indifferent to your presence, and Sasha was happy as ever to see you. They were both in uniform as well.

"Good Morning, Eren, Y/N!" Sasha said cheerfully as you took your seats.

"Morning." Said Eren immediately digging into his food.

"Good morning." You said, unable to keep the nervousness from your voice. People were already starting to give you strange looks.

"Y/N." Sasha said, "I've been meaning to apologize to you."

You smiled at her, "Eren told me what happened and I want you to know, there's no need to apologize. Accidents happen, and like everyone's been saying. This was bound to happen sooner or later."

Sasha beamed at you and Mikasa gave you a brief smile as well. "That means so much to me, Y/N. I've been kicking myself over this."

You shook your head. "You're fine, Sasha." You smiled at her but another glare was shot at you from the table behind her. "I just wish people would stop looking at me like that. How do they even know who I am?"

"It's because you're with us," Eren said, as he placed a comforting hand on your back. "Sorry about that."

Mikasa seemed to stiffen when Eren touched you so casually. You thought you saw her jaw tighten. Once you registered what Eren had said, you looked back to him, a bit confused.

Mikasa was the one who realized that you needed more explanation. "The people of Eldia aren't aware of you personally, just of a Marleyan who the Scouts have been hiding. Since they see three Scout uniforms sitting with a woman they've never met before, they assume you're that Marlien."

"Ahh." You said in realization. "I noticed the same looks when I was with Armin yesterday. So you're saying I could go out on my own and no one would notice me?"

Sasha nodded and opened her mouth but Eren spoke before she could say anything. "Don't even think about it. I think Armin might actually kill me if I let you out of my sight."

"I wasn't thinking about it." You said, feeling childish.

"Once the rest of the Scouts get going I can change out of my uniform and you and I can do whatever you want." He said.

"Where are you all going then?" You asked Sasha and Mikasa.

Mikasa answered you. "Since we're here they've scheduled us for a few meetings with some higher-ups we don't get to see often. We'll also be able to support Armin in his defense."

"And you're not going? I thought Armin wanted you there?" You turned to Eren.

"I thought so too, but he gave me orders to prioritize you. I think when we talked yesterday morning he already realized he was planning on bringing you along. I'm on Y/N duty today." He grinned and put an arm around your shoulders. Now you really felt childish.

~ ~ ~

Eren had changed out of his uniform as he promised and the two of you now wandered the streets of the capital. He had been right. No one seemed to bat an eye at you now that you weren't in the proximity of a scout uniform.

There were all sorts of shops, museums, and parks to visit and Eren let you decide where to go. According to him, the capital didn't hold the same magic as it used to for him. You found that whatever magic he had been talking about was sapped from your experience as well. You wished that you could be here with Armin and every time you thought of him your heart twinged with worry. After lunch, Eren took you back to your room. He had told the other scouts to meet there around that time since that's when they should be wrapping up their meetings.

When you arrived you and Eren helped yourself to the bar, both pouring glasses of your choice of liquor. You felt the liquor soften your nerves and Eren did a wonderful job lightening the mood while you waited for the others to arrive.