Hey everyone! Chapter four, we're trucking right along! So I know it's not the weekend, but I wanted to upload today so...yay? Also before I go on with my author's note I'd like to throw a big thank you out to my followers and reviewers. All you guys make me so happy! So have some internet hugs and cookies from me!

So I don't know where the inspiration for this chapter came from, I just kind of thought of Marco's painting at the end of chapter two and thought I might as well bring it back, plus Jean being all flustered would be so adorable. Also Marco and flowers, man, Wisteria's rubbing off on me! That's all I'm going to say, no spoilers. Heh. Also I think this is an appropriate time to say that thanks to Riverspirit86's input there will indeed be eventual smut, I'm just guessing right now but it will probably be in chapter 8ish it really depends how much relationship development I can put in the upcoming chapters, I really don't want them to do the frick frack right after only a month, it just doesn't fit their personalities in the story. And also another point coming off of that, Marco is most likely going to be topping, so if you're a Jean topping type person, I'm sorry for the first time it's going to be Marco. But that doesn't mean that Jean won't possibly top later in the story. Okay, okay ramble over, story now.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or places used, I just own the writing.

Enjoy!

P.S. Don't kill me for using the term 'tonsil hockey'

Four: An Artist

August is the month where every student realizes the amount of time and days they wasted doing nothing and try to make up for it. I'm really no exception to this usually, but oddly this year my first summer vacation month was, for the most part that is, fairly productive. I'd kept my job all that month. I'd gotten myself a sweet boyfriend who unbeknownst to him inspired me to take up sign language on Thursday nights. Also I'd saved up a fair bit of money for college in the fall.

So when my fridge's calendar flipped from July to August I didn't feel the distant twinge of regret that I usually did, no I felt like for once in my life I'd truly accomplished something over the month of July. Not to mention that I also felt excitement knowing my freckled angel and I had successfully been together for a whole month. One month in the grand scheme of things wasn't much. But you have to start with months to get to years, right? Sometimes you regret even bothering with letting something go on that long, I knew I definitely regretted letting that happen once or twice in my life (not to name any names but I regretted letting myself go on that long with Eren Yeager), but with Marco deep down somewhere I just knew stupid months turning into to grand years would be just right and it was what I needed.

On the seventh of August, the day of our one month anniversary, when Marco walked into the café causing the bells connected to the door to jingle loudly as they always did, he was carrying a large canvas behind him. I'd already known that Marco was an art student. I mean when I went to his apartment for the first time after walking him home, I'd been greeted by every art supply imaginable and had spent over an hour just going through his sketch pads. I just didn't understand why he'd bother lugging a painting from there to here. When we locked eyes I cocked a brow and he shrugged, which was a very Marco-esque answer. He began shuffling towards to me, the painting following suit.

Ymir who'd previously been flirting with Christa across the cash register looked up at Marco, "freckles if you need a naked model, Jean's your guy. He might look like a wonky pencil but I bet underneath those big sweaters and band shirts he's got some muscle." she winked and I nearly bit my tongue off trying not to pounce her and beat her up then and there. Marco let out a sigh that asked 'what are we going to do with her' before turning to look at me and letting the smallest look of pleasure grace his lips. I grinned back at him not even trying to stop the flush on my cheeks. I opened my mouth to say something romantic and slightly stupid about our anniversary. Nothing came out because Marco passed me a pre-written note.

Happy one month anniversary Jean.

After our first date, it was a date right? The time you burnt yourself? Anyways after that I went back to my apartment and well long story short, I painted. When you and I talked about being different it got me thinking, but that's another tale for another time. The painting I'm about to give you was originally titled 'Jean Kirschtein' but I thought into it some more and now it's called 'The Soldier Who Was Different'. Which fits it better and I hope you think it does too, Jean. The soldier part comes from how brave I know you are. You probably don't even realize it yet Jean but you're a born leader. The last part I believe, is self explanatory, or at least it should be. Jean you're different and it's nothing to be ashamed of. Our first night in this café you said you're always trying to fit in in this world but you don't need to change for anything. If the world wants to mold you into something you're not, don't let it, fight back my soldier because you know I love you.

Also I hope you have free wall space for this, it's kinda large.

-Marco Bodt xoxo.

I bit my lip, blinking rapidly. My cheeks slowly flushed as I finished reading his note. I set it down and stared at him. His brown doe eyes shone in the light of the café. "Marco...I don't even...-you're too good for me." I gestured towards the painting and then towards him. He smiled slightly taking my left hand into his right and scribbling a reply on the back of the note. Trust me I'm not. Now, Jean, do you want to see your present?

I nodded vigorously, just like a child who'd been offered ice cream. Marco leant down, pulling the masterpiece up to my eye level and not at all dramatically hauling an old sheet off it. I sucked in an amazed breath as my eyes watered ever so slightly. It was beautiful. A collection of colours were neatly put together to depict me. I wasn't facing the onlookers of the painting, though my head was turned just enough to see the side of my face. A green cape that I had held around my shoulders showed a symbol that to the best of my knowledge had never been used before in the military, it had two wings on it, one side blue and the other white. Marco's initials were written lightly in the corner in black paint with a small heart after them.

"Holy fucking shit Marco, I don't even know what to say. Thank you...so much, I-I love it," I wiped my eyes with my bawled up hands, much like a little kid would. "I love you." I whispered pitifully, and made the 'grabby hands' towards him which had kind of become my way of wordlessly telling him to come towards me because I wanted to hug or kiss him. When he came into my outstretched arms I hugged him tightly and whispered into his ear, "you're a big jerk Marco, making me cry like a little bitch." I kissed the tip of his nose lightly, causing him to smile adorably.

"I have something for you too," I murmured none too pleased. "It's kinda lame compared to your gift though." Unraveling my arms from his shoulders I went to go dig in my messengers bag, pulling out a large bouquet of flowers. Marco's eyes shone a bit more than usual upon seeing them.

"You told me a while back that you loved flowers and roses are romantic... so I dropped by the florist down the road and picked these up." I gripped the flower's stems tightly enough to turn my knuckles white as I held them at arm's length in front of him. Gingerly, he took the bouquet from me, running his fingers across the soft petals of one of the roses. He pulled me into another embrace. His arms were wrapped fully around my neck, mine were resting on his waist lightly. Somewhere in the back of my mind I thought that I was happy about the lack of peoplein the café, last thing I need was a bunch of old church ladies throwing homophobic slurs at me. He let go of me reluctantly and smiled, casting his gaze back downwards to look at his flowers.

Marco was probably one of the first men I'd met who got that excited over flowers. It made me happy to know how pleased he could be with so little. I leaned forward and captured his lips with mine.

"I'm glad you liked your present baby," I whispered gently against his lips, "how'd you like to spend the night at my place?"

To help you to put up a painting? Or do you just want my company? He typed and passed his phone over after detaching himself from me.

"Both, I think."

As per usual, I closed the café at eight and made my way home with Marco by my side. We walked hand in hand which in hindsight sight wasn't the smartest thing to do since I was carrying a large piece of canvas at my side. When we made it to my apartment, we started to put the painting up on my wall. I'm not going to go into great detail with how we put it up but it entailed, lot's of cursing on my part and Marco running back and forth to the bathroom for bandages numerous times. It took an hour or so to finally get it up on the wall.

"There, it's up." I said, tilting my head to the side much like a cat would to marvel at the painting for a moment. My eyes caught sight of Marco's roses resting on the table. I gestured towards them, "how about we get those babies some water and then call it a night?"

Marco agreed, so I set out to look for something that could hold the flowers. I eventually settled on using a mason jar, setting them in after adding some cold water. The thought of my bed and Marco sounded really good by now. I grabbed his hand, steering him down the hallway into my room. Going through to my dresser and tossing a pair of sweats at Marco, I murmured, "there's an extra toothbrush under the sink." He disappeared into the room across the hall as I got changed into my own sleepwear. Checkered boxers and an old shirt from high school that said 'loading sarcasm'. When Marco returned into my room he wore my pants but nothing on his upper half, he had the toothbrush from under the sink hanging out his mouth. My eyes widened, my jaw dropped and I blushed so hard I swear it hurt all in less than a millisecond. He knit his eyebrows together in a questioning look, to which I just shook my head.

"Jesus Marco...you're really hot." I blinked a few times. His chest, shoulders and arms were covered in freckles and I had to stop myself from wondering how many he might have underneath my sweat pants. He smiled at me around the toothbrush, which caused some white toothpaste to leak out the sides of his mouth. I laughed and he shuffled back to the bathroom to spit. When he once again reappeared in my doorway I told him to get comfortable and went to brush my own teeth.

After making sure my mouth had been thoroughly cleaned, I moved back to my bedroom and threw myself on top the plush bed, dragging Marco down ontop of me. I kissed him once gently on the lips, holding him with my arms wrapped around his lower back. My eyes slowly swept over his neck. Next thing I knew I was trailing slow open mouthed kisses along it. He noticeably filched as I reached some of his sensitive points but showed no other signs of discomfort. Painfully slowly I kissed up his throat and over his jawline to his lips. Messy open mouthed kisses followed from then on. Marco would bite my lower lip lightly every so often.

"M-Marco." I breathed quietly. He took this as an opportunity to forcefully shove his tongue into my mouth. I flushed from the tips of my ears down to my toes before I could get up the courage to do the same to him. Marco was letting quiet moans and cries escape past his lips. I honestly couldn't stop myself from doing the same.

I don't know if you've ever heavily made out with someone, but it's hard to breathe when you do so. So after a fair amount of tonsil hockey we pulled away from each other. I was beyond crimson when we did, Marco too had a fair amount of blush spread over his freckled cheeks.

"Would now be an okay time to say that I love you?"

Marco held up a slender finger and scrambled around for a second or two to find his phone.

Why? Were you going to?

"Answer the question."

Well it's not like you haven't said it before. But yeah, Jean it's as fine a time as any to say it.

"I love you so much Marco, happy anniversary."

I love you too Jean. Happy anniversary.

I opened my mouth to speak but Marco's eyelids were slowly drooping. "Tuckered yourself out, huh? Goodnight baby."

Marco slept peacefully curled up at my side but I stayed awake for a long while after that. It was one of those nights were sleep wouldn't take me because I was too busy thinking about every life choice I'd ever made. My mind wandered here and there, I remembered my time with Eren and how I'd fucked that relationship up so badly. I thought about my parents kicking me out. I thought about the few friends that had always stuck with me, Ymir with her teasing being one of them. Then I thought about Marco, my angel. Maybe, just maybe I was beginning to see the brave soldier I might very well be. If Marco thought I was brave, I'd be brave for him. All I knew was that I wasn't going to mess this up. I loved him far to much.

I glanced at the clock realizing I had been contemplating everything so long that it was already two in the morning. I also realized how tired I really was, so I closed my eyes and let a rough dreamless sleep take me.