AoT/SnK~Preferences/Oneshots

Armin ~ Blue Dress {Part One}

(This is a Modern!AU)

The muddy colors all blended into one another, forming a dark ocean that completely encircled everything.

Alone on the bench, the dark colors made Armin a bit drowsy. They swayed back and forth, just as they did every day. Just as they were meant to. Because, as was well known amongst society, everyone and everything has its place and purpose. Everyone and everything must conform. Armin knew his place, sitting under the black umbrella he held above his head to protect from the downpour. He knew his place as the quiet boy, the one who tried his hardest to blend in. And he liked his place. He thought it suited him.

The people who passed did not talk. They kept to themselves, heads down, expressions cold. The only noise they made came from their shoes as they walked. The women; their heels. The men; their loafers. They were all much older than him. Here was where he waited after school, just as always, for his grandfather to get off from work. It usually took a few hours, but the wait wasn't hard unless he forgot to bring a book. Usually it was a thriller, or a mystery. It felt as though the genres matched the atmosphere; gloomy. He liked it like that, though. That's how it always was.

On this rainy day, however, he had forgotten his book. So for the three hours he waited, he sat and watched the people go by. As the wave of dark colors passed on, and as the sky turned to a slightly darker shade of grey, he continued to watch. Everyone looked so sad. It was just as they always did, not once had he seen a bright face.

Until he saw her.

The soft shade of blue immediately caught his eye. He sat up a bit as his eyes narrowed on the color. It stood out so boldly against the ocean of black.

The dress was fitted to her chest and waist, then fell loosely to just above her knees. A white bag was slung across her shoulder, her face buried in a book. Her hair, unlike the other women around her, cascaded down her back instead of having been tied up. She reached a hand up and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before looking up.

Her eyes wandered around the sea of people in a curious manner. Armin could not pry his eyes from her, or that entrancing shade of blue. Her lips parted as she looked around. Those eyes... they were brighter than any he had seen before. He noticed this when, for that brief second, they locked with his own.

He averted his eyes, trying to make it look as though he had not been staring even though it was so very obvious. He felt his face heat up and worried that he was blushing. Despite the feeling of embarrassment that rippled through him, he could not help but dwell on the feeling of those eyes meeting his own. Their brightness, it was dizzying.

As he stared at the ground, he watched as a beat up pair of converse stopped before him. He glanced up towards that shade of blue.

The girl held a book out towards him. The cover was a mix of shades that varied from purple to blue, yellow to green, all covered with a glossy finish. He looked up, into those bright eyes, and offered an inquisitive look.

She smiled, "You forgot your book today."

- -
-♡-
- -

Dragons, elves, fairies, demons, spirits. All these were things Armin had not thought of in years. Not until the girl in the blue dress gave him the book. Until then, they had seemed childish. Just as it had been deemed childish to have an interest in such subjects. Yet, as he flipped through page after page, he found that he could not put the book down. Not only was there the fact that it came from her, but because he couldn't believe what was written on each page.

Everything was different. Despite it only being words, he could see each color in his head as it was described. He could picture each creature that was listed. He was immersed in the beauty of a world that was not his own.

The girl in the blue dress knew he usually read. That's why she gave him that book. That means she's seen him before. He mentally cursed himself for not bothering to look up just once, missing the chance to notice her.

Next time, he knew he wouldn't miss her.

So the next day, he waited. Her book sat in his lap as he scanned the sea of darkness for her once more.  It did not rain on this day, although the sky was still overcast.  Spring crept up slowly, yet a chill still hung in the air. 

Two hours passed.  His grandfather would be getting out of work very soon.  Perhaps she wouldn't show up.  Maybe it was only coincidence that she did the day before.  Armin felt himself retreat a bit back into his place.

Red.  A bold shade of red.  It was bright, like a pepper, and more noticeable than the blue one, although he still found he loved the color very much, especially on her.  The red sweater went well with her blue jeans.  Her white bag was slung over her shoulder, she held a new book in her hands.  When she looked up, her eyes immediately met his.

She smiled.

He tried his best to smile back, knowing it looked depressing compared to her, who seemed to fill the world with light in a single motion.

She walked over to him, standing in front of him just as she did the day before. 

"I, uhm, finished it," he said, feeling his face heat up again.  "It was really good."  He held the book out to her.  She took it from him and placed it into her bag before sitting down next to him.

Ohmygodshe'ssittingnexttomewhatdoIdowhatdoIdo- Armin's panicked thoughts were cut off by her voice.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it.  It's one of my favorites.  Something about the way he writes... it's just so beautiful," she sighed blissfully, staring out into the sea of darkness.  She then turned to him.  "I'm sorry if it was a little forceful of me to just give you the book.  Quite honestly, I didn't expect you to read it."

Armin tilted his head slightly to the side, "What do you mean?  Of course I'd read it."

She hummed softly, a smile still lingering on her lips as her eyes seemed to examine every detail of his face.  "I figured you were different from them.  I guess I was right."

She clasped her hands together and spoke before he could reply, which he was silently grateful for, given that the prior statement was rather sudden.

"So, I believe that since I forced my book upon you, it's only fair you have me read something you like."

"Oh, w-well, I don't have any books with me at the moment," Armin said, once again internally cursing himself for something he could not change.

"That's alright, I live near the library.  I can check it out on the way home," she said.  She really seemed curious as to what he liked.  Nobody had ever cared so much about his interests.  He thought for a moment, trying to rush and pick out a book that might impress her. 

"Have you read 'Misery,' by Stephen King?  I know it's pretty popular, but it's a good one nonetheless."

"No, actually, I haven't.  I'll read that later, thank you...?"  She trailed off, implying that she wished to know his name.

"Armin."

"I like that name," she said, and his face heated up a bit more.  "I'm (Y/N)."

"That's a very pretty name," he said, relieved that he managed to say it without stuttering, although he knew he was as red as her sweater.  She didn't acknowledge it.  Instead she smiled again.  He could admire her face all day, although that seemed a bit stalker-like. 

"Thank you.  I think I should be heading home now, though.  I can't be late for dinner, and I have to stop by the library," she said, standing up and adjusting her bag.  She had just started to walk off when Armin found himself speaking before he could think.

"H-hey, (Y/N)?" he asked.  She turned around to face him.  Her bright eyes locked with his.

"Would you happen to have anything else for me to read?"