Business was amazing at the local Maid Cafe.

Dozens of customers flocked to see what they assumed was either a male crossdresser, or a pair of lovebird girls in maid's uniforms. It was fabulous.

Lately, Annie was having trouble keeping her hands off of Armin. At first she didn't notice, but soon afterwards discovered that her affection was becoming public, so she stopped. This angered their manager.

"Hug. Kiss. Do something! I don't care. It's making me more money and the public likes it. Heck, I should have hired a male maid a long time ago!"

Annie was disgusted.

Love and money were two totally different things.

Armin became a bit embarrassed. He loved Annie, and didn't mind if she wanted to hug or kiss him, but he would never force her to do anything she didn't want.

"Go out and please those customers!" The manager boomed, "Make me some money! Make a lot and do it fast! Do it by any means necessary! Understand?!"

"Yes sir." Annie saluted, sarcastically.

Armin gave her a worried look.

Annie carefully carried a tray of ice cream out to a customer. Armin followed her, carrying another tray. Many different pairs of eyes stared at the two. The main lobby was much fuller than usual.

Annie set the tray down, "Here you go. Will that be all?"

"Kiss your girlfriend!"

"Excuse me?" Annie look up from her notepad.

The customer was not a pervert, nor wasn't even male. She was a cute schoolgirl with a group of friends, all girls themselves. They all had adorable sailor uniforms on, and their faces displayed wide eyes and grins, waiting for Annie.

"You love the other one right? Everyone says you do. Kiss and seal your true love!" The girls squealed and held their fists together in harmony. They were certainly a giggly bunch.

Annie sighed, "I don't feel comfortable doing that sweetie." She said as nicely as possible.

The girls whined, "Awww, why not? You don't love her anymore?"

"N-no, it's not that. Besides… she's a he…"

The girls interrupted, "Then kiss! If you love her then kiss!"

"Kiss!"

"Kiss!"

"Kiss!"

They began ranting.

Armin heard the commotion from where he was standing. He looked at Annie, a blush forming on his face. If she didn't mind then he wouldn't, although it appeared as if she did mind.

"Annie I... "

"Armin," Annie spun around to face him, "Shut up and kiss me."

The two locked lips in the middle of the cafe.

Suddenly a roaring cheer came from the schoolgirl table, followed by squeals and tears. Others in the cafe clapped their hands.

Armin sighed as Annie pulled away from him and wondered if he could somehow focus on his work for the rest of the day.

Annie stomped back into the kitchen all red in the face and not willing to come out. Armin quickly followed after her in hopes to calm her down.

"Annie!" He pleaded, "Please come back!"

Suddenly he stopped. Annie was standing in the corner of the kitchen with her hands over her face; she wasn't moving.

"Annie, are you crying?' Armin asked, whispering.

"No," she shook her head, her voice shaking too. She kept covering her face.

"If it's about what happened back there, I can tell those girls-!"

"It's not that, Armin." Annie interrupted.

Armin placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort, "Then what?" He asked.

Then something very strange happened; Annie began to laugh. It wasn't very loud, in fact it was more of a giggle, but she was definitely laughing. Although Armin doubted she was happy.

"I'm such a weak girl," She stated.

Armin gasped, "N-no you're not! Annie, are you kidding me? You-!"

"Yes I am! I can't do anything by myself anymore. I have no home. I have a crappy job that barely pays for anything and there's nothing left over. I don't own anything. Even the furniture in my old home belonged to Reiner and Bertholdt."

Armin held her close and listened.

"When I was evicted, they took it back. But when I asked if I could stay with them, they said 'no'. I guess they were tired of me."

Armin stroked her hair, "Annie, when you were in school, what did you want to do after you graduated?"

Annie shook her head, "I wasn't sure if I even wanted to go to college. I don't know what I want to do with my life. I don't even know what I'm doing with it now."

Armin was silent. He knew what he wanted to say to her, but he wasn't sure if it was the appropriate time. He didn't want to frighten her, or make her angry.

"Maybe I should just go back and live with my dad," Annie sniffed.

"No! No!" Armin pleaded, "Don't do that! Besides, you're a grown woman now. I would marry you and keep you forever so that you could have a home, but-!" Suddenly Armin covered his mouth, with realization as to what he just said, "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up so quickly... " He whispered.

Armin figured he was done for.

Thankfully, Annie didn't react much to his statement. Mostly because she knew that if she wasn't watching herself, she might have blurted out something similar.

"But, that would mean you'd still be relying on someone." Ironically, Armin finished his statement.

"No." Annie responded, "If their's something my father taught me besides fighting, it's that wives don't solely rely on their husbands. The husband and wife are supposed to rely on each other, ideally. At least that's what I've heard."

Armin smiled. Somehow his mishap had turned into something better.

"Their's an African saying that says, 'the man is the head and the woman is the neck, but when the neck turns, so does the head'."

Armin pulled Annie closer to him and embraced her with a hug. Annie held him back, and for a moment the kitchen was absolutely silent.

Armin and Annie returned home with a much better feeling than last time. The growing painful pit in Annie's stomach had vanished since Armin had revealed his feelings about living together. She wouldn't have to say goodbye to him, possibly forever, and that released a giant burden off of her shoulders. She felt safe, and for once happy, knowing that she would have a companion. Armin felt the same. Without her, he would worry for her safety, and after seeing how much she had matured since high school (no longer starting fights or having meltdowns), he was pleased and he couldn't get her out of his brain.

Armin wiggled the keys inside of the lock, dropping the keys once and having to pick them back up again. He was more nervous than usual due to the fact that he had news for Eren.

Once inside, the two noticed that it was quieter than usual. Eren wasn't running around the apartment in his underwear and making all kinds of noise. And Mikasa was nowhere to be seen.

"Eren?" Armin called, and then suddenly he saw him.

Eren was asleep on the couch, but Armin's voice had startled him.

"What? What? What?" Eren jolted up, half dazed. He blinked a few times and peered up at Armin and Annie.

"Oh, hello you two." He smiled and slid up from his cozy spot.

"Eren, why weren't you asleep in your bed?" Armin asked.

Eren snorted, "Because Mikasa is in there and she took my bed! She's taking a nap too." He didn't sound too happy with Mikasa's decision.

Armin changed the subject, "Eren I want to tell you something."

"What?" Eren casually asked, walking towards the fridge and grabbing some cheese to munch on. He shoved it into his mouth while waiting for Armin.

"So?" Eren asked, "What's the big secret?"

Armin smiled, "Well, I've saved enough money to get my own place."

Eren almost jumped out of his skin, "That's great man! Not that I didn't enjoy your stay, but whatever, congrats!" He said through muffles of cheese.

"And there's something else."

"What?"

"Annie and I are going to be living together."

Annie nodded her head in approval; at that moment her eyes slightly sparkled, but you had to be quick to notice. Eren's eyes widened.

"Well," Eren said, raising his voice, "THAT was quick. When was this decided?"

"I want to give Annie a home." Armin said, bashfully.

"So, you're not in love?"

Suddenly Armin became flustered, "No! No! That's not it! I do love Annie," he said, hiding his redness, "I want to take care of her." He finished.

Eren looked at Annie, "And, is Annie herself ok with this?"

Annie noded in approval one more. Their need be no physical affection taking place, especially in front of Eren or Mikasa. The way that Armin and Annie now communicated showed a demonstration of deep respect, for most that was all that was needed for proof of their bond.

Soon, Mikasa emerged from her hiding place.

"I heard everything." She stated coldly.

Annie turned her face away from Mikasa. She was afraid of the kind of look she might get from her. Perhaps it was safer to just not look at all.

Suddenly a thought sprung on Eren, "Hey man, are you two planning on getting married? Can you even afford that? I mean, I know you're getting your own place so…"

Mikasa elbowed her brother in the shoulder.

"Ow!" Eren shouted and rubbed his arm, giving his sister a look, "What was THAT for?"

"Eren, don't be rude." She said in a monochrome voice.

Armin shook his head, "No, but someday when we can afford it, I would like to marry Annie." He smiled and looked towards her. "But for now, I just want to take care of her and be close to her until then."

Eren scratched his forehead "Oh, ok. That's cool."

Mikasa tapped Annie on the shoulder. Annie almost jumped slightly, staring at Mikasa and asking, "Yes?"

"Annie, come with me." Mikasa signaled towards Eren's bedroom.

Annie slowly followed Mikasa, ever so grateful that she had her pocket knife within reach in case anything should happen. Mikasa didn't appear to want to fight at the moment, although you never could tell with her emotionless background.

Eren inched forward, "Uh, Mikasa, don't do anything brash…!" He raised his voice.

"Don't worry, Eren. I just want to speak with her."

This didn't make Annie feel any better, but the two boys seemed happy with her response. Mikasa led Annie into Eren's bedroom and shut the door quietly. Annie only stood and prepared for anything. If she had to fight, then she would. But would Mikasa do something like that in front of Eren and Armin?

"Annie, I think we got off on the wrong foot." Mikasa spoke.

Annie was stunned. She didn't want to fight. She was trying to make up.

"I understand that you and Armin have something going on. I suppose it's not my business. Nevertheless, I feel as though if we were enemies, while you and Armin were close, then that would be very strange. Your partnership may even fall apart because of us."

She had a good point.

"I don't want to be friends. But, I don't want to be enemies either. Agreed?" Mikasa held out her hand.

Annie was fully aware that ever since the two met, a bitter rivalry had started. She wasn't sure if it was over Eren or something else, but whatever it was, whenever the two crossed paths they fought like cats and dogs.

They were adults now. Both of them were moving on to greater things. It was time that they settled this once and for all, like civilized human beings.

Annie reached for Mikasa's hand and gave it a shake. Mikasa gave a slight satisfied smile through the darkness.

Annie didn't consider herself "human", but she could at least pretend to be one.

Back in the living room, the two boys were having conversation of their own.

"Eren," Armin whispered, "You don't have any hard feelings towards Annie or I, right?"

Eren appeared shocked, "Of course not! Why would I?"

"Well, it's just that, I know in high school you kind of had a little crush on Annie. You liked her, and I wasn't sure how you felt now, so I was worried."

Armin tapped his pointer fingers.

Eren only laughed, "Yea, I thought she was kind of hot, I guess. But, that was a long time ago. If you dig her then I'm totally cool with that. Go for it."

"Really?" Armin beamed.

"Of course! I'm surprised that you met again, and that you want to live together. Because if I recall, Annie was one of the most popular girls in our school. I don't ever remember you receiving such an achievement. Unless you count getting that 'algebra athlete' award," Eren paused, "But, that wouldn't make you cool, would it?"

Armin only laughed, "Eren, high school is over. Whatever you were then is meaningless, Annie said it herself. I'm just happy that we can be together now." He smiled, "And I'm glad you're ok with us."

"Man," Eren said, "If this is what makes you happy, then I'm happy." He gave his friend a pat on the back.

Armin sighed, relieved that he hadn't tarnished his friendship with Eren.

"After all of this is over," Eren said, "We should go see how Sasha and Connie are doing."

The next few weeks were very busy. Armin and Annie quit their jobs at the maid cafe, to the dismay of the manager. He begged them to stay because it was good for business. Armin only refused him.

"The school I want to attend isn't in this area. It would not be convenient. Besides," he said with a small giggle, "I don't think working as a maid is the profession I want to strive for." With that, Armin and Annie left the cafe for good.

Eren and Mikasa helped the two move out. Afterwards, Eren's apartment felt quite empty.

Eren sighed, "It will be so lonely without all of my old friends. Aren't you leaving soon too Mikasa?"

"Yes. My time here is finished."

"Alright then." with another sigh Eren went inside. He had a thought in his head. Perhaps it would be good for me to start college as well.

Armin and Annie walked down the street towards their new home. They had to catch a bus in order to reach it, and Armin had the maps and route all planned out. Meanwhile, Armin was asking her questions about the future. Armin had a desire to go do more schooling and increase his education, although Annie did not. So it was decided that Armin would be the breadwinner.

"I want to major in Humanities and Sciences. It sounds interesting to me."

It sounded like a lot of boring work to Annie, but she supported him in his decision. After all, he was the one taking the class, not her.

They continued their conversation and talked about many other things too, all the way to their destination.

The maid cafe was desolate. Suddenly the manager heard a knock at the door. He stomped towards the entrance and flung the front door open, dust flying everywhere. A small dark-haired figure stood at the doorway.

He coughed, "Ugh, this place is filthy. I'd come in here and wash up before I'd expect anyone to want to eat at a grime-filled place such as this!"

"Well then," the manager proclaimed, "Why don't I hire you and you clean it up for me?"

"Deal."

"Ok then," he pulled out a notepad, "What's your name lad?"

"Heichou. Levi Heichou, and I'm not a 'lad'."

THE END

Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for helping me beta this FanFiction!