The Intern

Chapter 31

Armin

Three sharp raps on the door.

"It's open, Mikasa," I called, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. I knew it had to be her, of course. Eren would have tried to come barreling into the room before he knew whether or not the door was locked, and Jean's knock had been nothing but timid since we started talking again. Not that he'd really bothered to visit me much since we landed in Paris; it seemed to be an unspoken agreement that I wasn't ready for a close friendship just yet.

Mikasa opened the door and fixed me with a perplexed stare, "Don't the doors lock automatically?"

I pointed at the little brown stopper I had nudged into the corner of the door, "I wasn't sure if Eren was going to try to follow me down here, so I figured I'd save him the trouble of running headfirst into a locked door."

Mikasa rolled her eyes as she stepped inside the room, kicking the doorstop away as she did so. "I don't think you have to worry about that one. I'm pretty sure he sent me here in his place."

I took a deep breath and returned my attention back to the previous task of fretting over my outfit. As much as I hated to admit it, I wanted to look good for today's trip. I was going to be alone with Erwin, the company's president, so I had to make sure I dressed to impress. At least that was what I kept telling myself. I'd actually said it so many times already that I was almost starting to believe it.

I could have been convinced if it weren't for the pesky voice in my head reminding me that I was doing this for the man and not the title.

"So," I began with a sigh, glancing away from the mirror to look over at her, "What did Eren send you here to do?"

"He wanted me to ask if I could go with you today," she stated warily, watching my expression.

I groaned and ran a hand down my face before I could stop myself from reacting, "Why am I not surprised?"

Of course he would ask that. Why wouldn't he ask that? It wasn't like he was actually planning to trust me, even if I thought he was going to. I had been ready to get down on my knees and beg for some freedom or lenience today, and he had duped me just long enough to send down the one person I wasn't going to reject. Because how could I possibly reject the best friend I hadn't seen in months?

"Okay, so I'm going to take that as a no," Mikasa spoke up, filling the silence.

"No," I shook my head quickly and waved one hand in front of myself. My other hand was still occupying my face because I knew I couldn't get through any of this with a straight expression. Not with Mikasa. "No, I'd really like you to go with, actually. I haven't gotten to spend any time with you."

"You spent part of the plane ride with me," she pointed out.

"Until you ran off to join Eren," I sighed, still keeping my hand in its place. I couldn't ignore the crushing disappointment I was feeling right now.

"No offense, but watching you snuggle Captain America wasn't my idea of an in-flight movie," Mikasa teased. "Now will you take your damn hand off your face? It feels weird talking to you like this."

My hand was now partially hiding the blush that had taken over my face, but I knew she could see it anyway. Sighing through my teeth, I pushed my hand through my hair and turned back to the mirror. "Captain America will be going with us, just so you know."

"Oh, I know," Mikasa replied, "Why do you think Eren wanted me to go with in the first place?"

"To be my babysitter," I muttered, fidgeting with my long grey sweater.