The thought of their lips delicately touching and intertwining in a gentle sync caused a burning sensation in the pit of Armin's stomach, something he desperately tried to ignore as he laid beside Mikasa. Her breathing had become quiet finally and he began to think that maybe she actually was asleep now; he was relieved and finally allowed himself to drag out a long sigh of an exhale. He was confused as to why he was suddenly viewing his longtime friend in such a way and though it was troubling, his thoughts were consumed and completely fixated on her alone. Now that she was quiet and practicing her normal sleep patterns that he had memorized over the years, Armin became daring enough to prop himself up on one arm and look down at the girl laying before him. Her rosy lips were parted only slightly to allow the gentle breeze of breath to enter and leave her being, in which her chest would slowly rise and drop in a perfect sync, yet not a sound left her mouth. Despite seeing her nearly everyday since she came home with Eren, Armin was now viewing the bold Mikasa in a different light; a light that only shined on her and drew him in in a romantic lust.
The fearfulness within him quickly dimmed within each moment that he reached in closer to her, their bodies moving in closer in ways they never had before. Armin slowly placed his hand down beside where her body rested and he clutched down onto the sleeping bag, his fingers beginning to tremble both from the tight grip and the nervousness flowing through his veins. He wasn't sure what he was doing but the longer he looked at Mikasa, the more he wanted to be close to her. He had never been in such a situation, having never even had a silly crush on a girl in his youth nor chasing them around after school airs, yet his face was drawing in closer to the brunette's and his lips now only an inch or so away. He could feel the warmth of her rhythmic breaths tingle against his lips and his mouth began to water; the sensation within his abdomen growing to the point beyond ignorance. His entire being was frozen and though he wanted to pursue it further, all he could do was feel the heat of her on him and absorb it all over.
"Armin...?"
The unexpected voice caused Armin to leap from his previous position and jump to his feet, his hands instinctively thrown into the air as if to scream 'I'm innocent!' when words fail to do so. His saucer-like eyes connected with those of Connie Springer, his fellow troop and companion. Despite being completely stunned, a goofy grin began to spread across Connie's cheeks as he started to slide out of the doorway and Armin urgently hissed through bared teeth, "Connie, wait!" Without another thought, Armin darted out of the sleeping quarters and after the boy who had just witnessed his unthinkable act: attempting to pursue Mikasa Ackerman.
Armin shut the men's washroom behind himself with a loud slam and quickly planted himself in front of the door, his face twisted in both shock and shame. Connie had walked to the toilets and after a steady stream of urine began to hit the water, he chirped lightheartedly, "I never saw that coming, Armin!" Armin's cheeks were permanently flushed a vibrant red as he looked away and awkwardly stood in front of the bathroom door, his back against it to stop anyone else from emerging out of his control and crossing his arms. He was soaking in the embarrassment as he listened to Connie finish up, he gave himself a single shake and then zipped up the front of his pants. He turned to face Armin and smiled wide before striding towards the sinks and beginning to wash his hands. "I always expected to walk in on Eren on top of Mikasa one day, never did any of us even think it could be you." He started giggling and looked over to Armin as he doused his hands underneath the running water, trying to gain eye contact. His smile suddenly vanished when Armin angrily said, "Eren is her brother. How sick can you be?" He dropped his arms to his sides and balled his hands into fists as his rage filled eyes stuck onto Connie, who innocently waved his hands in the air and gawked awkwardly in return. He managed to choke out, "Adoptive brother, it's different. You know it." He then fell silent. He was speechless, he rarely saw Armin fired up. "You don't know what was going on and that brain of yours is thinking up a perverted mess, I know it." The blond sighed and looked down at his feet which were shuffling beneath him. "Keep it between us, okay?" He didn't look up until he felt a damp hand on his shoulder and was greeted by a gentle smile of Connie. "Sure, pal." He said.
