Isayama still owns Shingeki no Kyojin.

WARNING: AU. OOC. Might find this cheesy as hell. There might be typos somewhere.

Takes place months after chapter 2.

3. Name

After spending hundreds of lunch breaks with Armin, Annie noticed that he was never hesitant to voice out whatever came into his mind. One time when Annie was eating her spaghetti in peace, Armin suddenly blurted out something about worms and Annie almost hit him in his head with her heels, had Armin not realized what had he done and shut his mouth for the rest of the lunch. There was one time when he suddenly said—while Annie was munching her pasta—that Annie and Mikasa were alike in a way. Annie choked on her pasta.

They were sitting in Annie's new favourite spot at the cafe—somewhere in the non-smoking area—that day, eating lunch together like usual—actually, Armin was too engrossed in his thoughts that he hardly touched his meal. Annie didn't say anything, since it wasn't unusual for him to think about something too much and ignored everything around. He'd come back to the world eventually and eat his lunch later, anyway.

"Annie," from how he sounded, Annie suspected he was going to blurt out something random again, "you always order spicy things, don't you get stomachache?"

"No. My stomach is as strong as steel."

"Oh, really. As expected from you, Annie. I really like that strength that you possess." Armin laid back on his chair, his lips forming a smile, "I like a lot of things about you, actually."

Ha?

Annie stopped munching and raised her gaze from her meal to the still-smiling man across her.

What brought this up?

Armin realized her confused gaze on him, "What? I'm just telling the truth." Armin's smile only grew wider, "Your strength—I saw back in college in the martial arts club, you literally kicked everyone's asses easily. Your moves, although I know they hurt a lot, were as graceful, as if you were dancing."

Annie said nothing, instead she rested her chin on her palm, paying more attention to Armin, as if expecting him to say more. She didn't even glance at her meal.

"I like how dedicated you are to something, like your work, for example. Despite your face telling otherwise, I know you always do your best to finish your job perfectly." Annie raised an eyebrow. As he said, Annie always maintained a bored and flat face at work and she had no clue how Armin got his conclusion—not that it was untrue.

"I like the way you interact with other people. And as always, you never really show your feelings, but I know that you care about others a lot. I know you were the one who put the can of coffee on Bert's desk when he looked like he was about to doze off. I also know that you were the one who left that jar of cookies on my desk on my birthday."

"I am now convinced that you really are a stalker, Armin." Despite this, she was trying her best not to smile.

Armin rubbed the back of his head while chuckling, "Maybe I am. To you."

"Creepy."

"Sorry." He didn't look like he was sorry at all though, "Ah, you know. I like your hair as well. It looks so soft and I like the fact that it's only shades lighter than my own."

Annie was unaware that her own hand was touching her hair, trying to match Armin's description with the fact. It's not as soft as he thinks, I think.

"Also, I like your eyes a lot, Annie. They are in a beautiful shade of blue, that reminds me of the ocean. You know how fascinated I am of the ocean, right?" Who wouldn't when all Armin talked about in their spare time together was ocean and how they—everyone in their division, not just Armin and Annie, mind you!—should go to the ocean together for a holiday trip? Annie nodded as her answer.

"Oh, please don't find this offensive, because," Armin nervously scratched his cheek, "I like how petite your body is." A second after it was said, Armin swore he could feel dark aura slowly creeping from Annie's back so he lifted both hands in order to show he meant no harm, "Not in a perverted way or mocking your height! It's just—I think it's adorable!" Annie still didn't move, but Armin could still feel daggers from her glare.

After a whole five minutes, Armin assessed that it was safe for him to start speaking again, "There's still a lot of things I like about you, actually. I can write a scroll of list of things I like about you, Annie." Armin half-hoped Annie would ease down upon hearing this, and fortunately she did.

"B—but…" this gained more attention from Annie. It was seldom for Armin to stutter.

"I don't really like your name, actually."

Annie's body tensed at Armin's statement, and the daggers from her glare before increased, but this time Armin paid no attention, "I mean your surname. I think the name Annie suits you, but Leonhardt? It just…seems off to me."

Annie didn't understand what was going on, really. First Armin had lifted her above the clouds with all his compliments and now he was throwing her to the core of the earth, hard. What was his problem? Annie thought her surname suited her just fine, in fact it suited her a lot. Leonhardt. A lion's heart. It described her perfectly, didn't it?

"Armin, listen—"

"—I actually have a suggestion for your new surname—"

"Really, Armin, you should stop—"

"—Arlert."

"—before I kick your ass—huh?"

"I said, I suggest you change your name to Annie Arlert soon. It sounds better than Annie Leonhardt."

Annie was sure she looked as dumb as Jean whenever he was around Mikasa for a second before she got back her flat expression, "You said Arlert."

"Yes."

"Arlert is your last name."

"Yes."

"You want me to become Annie Arlert."

"That I do." Armin's smile grew wide.

"You want me to become your adopted sister?"

Silence.

"H—huh?"

"Not to be rude, Armin, but I have to refuse such offer." Annie shook her head, "Reiner and Bertholdt are practically my brothers, and I have no intention to have one more brother. But don't worry, you're still a good friend of mine."

Needless to say, Armin was dumbfounded. Was Annie really this dense?

"Annie." Armin's serious tone made Annie look at his eyes. Those determined eyes. Armin pulled out a little red box from his coat's pocket, "I want you to become Annie Arlert not as an adopted sister. I want you to become Annie Arlert as my wife."

Armin opened the box, revealing a golden ring complete with a beautiful sapphire that was as blue as Annie's eyes, "Annie Leonhardt, will you marry me?"

Silence for minutes, then Annie opened her mouth, still looking indifferent as she spoke, "We are not even dating. And who knows if I have feelings for someone else?" Her icy eyes locking gaze with his warm blue ones, "You're a rash one, aren't you."

"I know you don't like someone else, I just do." Armin grinned, "And I do realize that we're not dating. But who says every couple who wants to get married has to date first? We've known each other for years. I believe I know you inside out."

Annie fought the urge to laugh and blush and pull the blonde man across her closer. Instead, she let her lips form a satisfied smirk, "They don't call you smartass for no reason."

"Don't I know that."

Annie got up from her seat and walked towards Armin. She leaned towards him and pressed her lips on his temple, causing Armin to blush from her unexpected gesture. She slowly moved her lips right above his ear and murmured, "Let me be your Mrs. Arlert, then."

They kind of forgot that they were in a public place and people around were watching.

A/N: Don't we all need some happy stories after chapter 53. Omg I swear this is cheesy as frick and idk but I kinda dedicate this to ningie cassie who asked for some fluff, although I'm not really sure if this can be classified as fluff...

Thank you for everyone who took their time to read, review, follow and favourite this story! I hope I won't disappoint you all. As always, if you've got prompts, tell me and I'll do my best to write based on them! Also, do point out if I made some mistakes, and I'll work hard to improve.

OMAKE

"You remember the day you proposed to me?"

"Not a chance I can forget it."

"Here's a fun fact. Back then, I already knew you intended to propose a marriage and not an adoption."

"...then why did you act like you didn't have a clue?"

"I wanted to see your reaction. Turned out you're no fun. I was expecting you to stutter and do stupid things."

"Well sorry to disappoint you."

"It's okay." She scooted closer to him, "You being here with me right now has already made it up."