The Prince(ss) & The Pauper (AOT/SNK/EreMin)

22: Don't Let Me Dream Alone

22: Don't Let Me Dream Alone

Marco laid back onto his bed as Armin searched through his CD collection for something to listen to. The freckled teen watched him place a CD into their music player, listening to the opening song for Fall Out Boy's From Under The Cork Tree album filled his eardrums with camera clicks and electric guitar chords. He never really got into this band but this was something Armin would play all the time so he had gotten used to hearing Patrick Stump's vocals.

"You need something?" Armin asked, breaking Marco out of his trance.

"What's this one again?" Marco asked, recovering from spacing out as best as he could.

"Our Lawyers Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued," Armin replied. "Yeah, it's a long title."

"Well, it's certainly a unique one," Marco smiled. "You gonna pick up a book and study with me?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Armin said, grabbing his notes and textbooks. "I was just looking for music to listen to."

Marco shrugged and let Armin sit across from him on the bed. His eyes were trained on his college ruled paper and would often fixate on Armin's blonde hair and sky blue irises, but he would catch himself right away and look back at his handwriting before anything could happen.

In recent days, Armin had been attaching himself to Marco. He would never leave his side unless they had class and would always find their way back to each other in the end. He couldn't help but think of rekindling their brief fling before the car crash, but he knew that wanting to date Armin would only confuse the blonde. He said he was over him but that was only because he wanted Armin to feel happy with Eren and now that wasn't going to happen.

What's the harm in bringing it up? Marco thought to himself.

He was about to say something but Armin cut him off. "Remember when we kissed on the beach?"

Marco smiled. "You thought I was straight."

"I'm kind of oblivious at times," the blonde replied. "I thought Mikasa was Chinese instead of Japanese."

"I'm surprised you're still alive after saying that!" Marco laughed. "She used to be defensive about that stuff."

"I would be too if everyone kept telling me I was a different nationality," Armin said, looking at Marco intently.

Neither of the boys spoke for a few seconds and only stared at each other. Marco's heart started to race as did Armin's. The blonde felt himself start to shift closer to Marco as he stared at his lips. He didn't know this at the time, but Armin wanted the same thing Marco did and closed the gap between their lips.

Armin pulled away with a faded scarlet on his face. "I..."

Marco, unable to resist, pulled Armin closer and kissed him again. He ran his fingers through the blonde's hair as their tongues intertwined. Armin crawled on top of Marco and straddled his waist as they kissed each other again and again. Armin pulled away as he remembered that they didn't close the door and Gwenny and Mari were home.

"I'll get the door," Armin blushed as he stood up.

Armin shut the door silently and returned to Marco. He sat at the edge of the bed as the freckled teen sat beside him and both were feeling mildly awkward about what they had just done. Armin had never felt closer to someone than when he was with Marco but he wondered why he had only just started feeling this way about him.

"Should we stop?" Marco asked, hoping for Armin to say what he wanted.

Armin was in a mess of his own emotions. He knew he wanted Marco but he knew that would make everything about their situation complicated. He didn't fight his desires and connected his lips with Marco, certain that they weren't going to get any studying done that night.