OK, so I started watching Attack on Titan.
TAKE MY ADVICE AND DON'T DO WATCH IT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR HEART INTACT.
Anyway, I published this on tumblr last night, and here is a slightly edited version. Still unbetaed, though, and I've only watched four episodes so if it's a bit OOC or non-canon ignore it please?
I don't own Attack on Titan. If I did, then PEOPLE WOULDN'T DIE SO FRIGGIN' MUCH.
EDIT: OK, so this is now Chapter One of a story I'm doing. New format, same material.
Chapter bio: There are several kinds of courage, and it takes Eren for Armin to realize that.
Armin runs across the back hallways of the building Eren is housed in. He freezes at the sound of a guard's breath, biting his lip to silence himself until blood seeped onto his tongue, desperately trying to keep his heartbeat down. He wishes he had worn his boots, but they were too noisy against the ground. At least he has his uniform jacket to protect him from the chill. He's breaking so many rules; he'd be lucky if he wasn't shipped back out to just harvest crops. At the very least, he's facing several missed meals.
He grips the edge of the wall, poking his head around to see the door to Eren's cell. The lone officer on duty is leaning against the floor, asleep. With a gulp, Armin inserts the key he borrowed from Hanji- that reminds him, he needs to get a few teeth and some hair from Eren- into the slot. With a miniscule squeak, it opens. He steps into the dank prison, whispering "Eren?"
The other boy, clad in his sleeping clothes, is sleeping restlessly. Eren is on the verge of slipping from the tangled sheets. Armin walks closer and nudges the shoulder of his snoring companion. "Eren."
"Aaa!" Eren yells as he collapses onto the stone floor. "Fuck, that hurts- Armin?" he asks groggily, finally noticing the blond before him.
"Hey Eren. I-I heard you've been having trouble sleeping, and frankly, so have I, so I came to see how you've-" Armin begins until Eren cuts him off.
"How the hell did you get in here?" His voice is quiet, nervous, pleased.
Armin flushes. "I, uh, Hanji let me borrow her key," he says. "But, um, I'll need some, well…"
"Samples?" Eren offers. Armin nods furiously. "God, Armin. That's just… fuck."
Armin jolts and reaches inside his bag. "Oh yeah! This is from Mikasa. Neither of us were sure how much you were being fed, so…" he rambles off as he reveals a small loaf of bread.
Eren snatches the loaf, replying "they aren't starving me, but… God, Armin," he repeats. He takes a monstrous bite from the bread. A few days stale, but perfectly edible. "Tell Mikasa thanks," he spits out between chews. After a second, he rips a hunk off and it to Armin.
"Th-thanks." He accepts it, even though he's not hungry.
Eren regards him as he devours the loaf. He takes a final gulp before questioning his guest. "You realize how much trouble you could get in?" A wordless nod. "You could be killed." Another nod. "Why did you do it?"
Armin is suddenly very interested in his fingertips. "Everyone's really worried about you," he starts. "We rarely get to see you outside of missions."
Eren rolls his eyes. "Yeah, but why you? No offense, but you're not exactly 'daring,' Armin."
"It's just… damn it, Eren, I'm scared!" Armin finally admits, tears rushing down his cheeks. "The only reason I was willing to do all this was because I needed to see you! I can't sleep- I miss you being next to me… and…" He starts to choke up. "I-I'm afraid you'll get hurt… or l-lose control as a Titan… they could KILL you, Eren! And then what would I do? You and Mikasa are all I have left!"
Eren is taken aback by the confession. Armin was never one to hide his emotions; him crying shouldn't be surprising. And yet it takes everything Eren has to grasp his friend's shoulders. "Armin, it's OK. Quiet down, you want to wake the guard?" He sighs. "Please, I'll be OK. WE'LL be OK. C'mon, look at me," he pleads. And when cyan seeks emerald, something erupts in both.
For Armin, it's nothing new. Ever since Eren first rescued him from bullies at the age of nine, a certain amount of affection has always lurked inside his heart.
But it's different for Eren. He never quite understood why he was so protective of his bookish friend. Even now, the motivation for all his fears for Armin's safety are unclear. Nevertheless, he feels no qualms in his actions.
And so it is with little hesitation that the boys' lips clash.
It is awkward; ironically, it seems that Armin is the more bold of the two, gingerly tugging and nibbling the brunette's lower lip. Eren is more subtle, giving and taking to Armin's will while applying very little pressure of his own. Eren grabs the collar of Armin's jacket, and the blonde is holding Eren's face just a bit too tightly. At one point, teeth knock into each other, and shortly after they pull apart.
Armin is panting slightly. He had been wanting to do that for so long, and having it finally happen… it seemed even less likely of him than sneaking out in the first place. "Eren…" he whispers.
As a response, Eren wraps his arms around his companion. "You are braver than you give yourself credit for. You are smart, you are funny, and you are courageous." Each compliment is accompanied by a tender brush of lips on Armin's neck, causing the shorter boy to shiver.
"Eren… can I stay here tonight? Share the bed with you, like old times?" Armin asks gently. Eren nods his agreement. Together, they slip onto the mattress. There are words that could be spoken, actions that could be taken, but neither teen seems interested in them. They're just happy to have each other near for a change.
When Levi finds them the next morning, holding hands, he shakes his head, but closes the door. Let the brats get some time together, he thinks, because who knows how long it's going to last.
God damn it, I wanted this to be fluffy. Then Levi shows up. Shoot.