You creeped quietly through the doors to the mess hall which was already bustling with excitement as the soldiers ate their fill of dinner after their daily activities had come to an end. You were able to spot Jean quickly enough and began making your way through the crowd.
Reiner was the first to take notice of your approach and you quickly placed a finger to your lips, hushing the boy before he had a chance to call your name. It'd be kind of fun to sneak up on Jean, wouldn't it? It seemed Bertholdt had also noticed you but you doubted he would speak up regardless and you were lucky that the loud-mouthed Connie was facing away from you or your fun probably would have been over before it even started.
As you came up behind him you wrapped your good arm around the Jean's neck, leaning almost the entirety of your weight against him as you prolonged his name, "Jeaaaaannn."
You felt the way he tensed on instinct at first but regained himself quickly and tried to turn his face as much as your grip would let him. You were too comfortable in your position to notice the small blush that arose as he spoke, "Idiot – what are you doing? Don't press yourself against me like that."
"It's fine isn't it? You're the one always pulling me against you so I thought you'd like it." You intentionally teased him as he shifted from underneath you, grabbing your arm and dragging you around to the open seat beside him.
"I-diot." Jean emphasized the word as you more than usual, "What? Did you finally run away from the infirmary or something?"
"Nope, my release was today. I told you didn't I?" You held the paper out once more, knowing he would doubt you without the proof of paperwork.
"Huh? You never mentioned it." Jean took the paper from you and began reading it over.
"My mistake." You hummed.
"So are you all better now, _? I heard your injuries were pretty bad." Reiner spoke up as the opportunity to eject finally arose.
"Mm, one-hundred percent. They weren't really that bad in the first place, though." You leaned against the table, much-too-happy with the fact that you were finally able to be be walking around as you pleased once more.
"One-hundred percent my fucking ass. According to this paper you still can't even participate it regular training?" Jean glared at you as he handed the paper over into Reiner's extended hand.
"Details aren't important, right? I feel great and that's what matters." You smiled to reassure the boy that you were only kidding.
"Yeah? Then lift your arm above your head." Jean continued to glare and you obliged, raising your working arm straight into the air.
"Other one, smart ass."
"One is fine, isn't it?" Because even you weren't stupid enough to force that arm just yet. "But I can actually move it now, you know? Nothing extensive or anything but at least it's useful again."
"But you probably shouldn't push yourself too hard, _. It's good that you feel better but you wouldn't want to overdue it and end up right back where you started, right?" A quieter voice spoke up from down the table and you leaned over, trying to see exactly who it was that was speaking.
As you looked down the table for the first time you noticed it was much more full than you would have expected. Sure, Jean got along with the others much better than you ever had but was there always this many people around him? Sasha sat on the other side of Connie with Christa and Ymir a little down the table. When she smiled at you, you were able to determine that the source of the soft voice had been none other than the so-called angel of the 104th Trainee's corp herself.
"Yeah... thanks." You answered, not really knowing what to say.
"Geh. That wasn't sincere at all, was it?" Connie mumbled as he grimaced in your direction before Christa began speaking once more.
"Of course, _. Take care of yourself, okay?" She smiled as she stood up, apparently finished with her meal and leaving the table behind with Ymir and Sasha quickly following behind her.
"Can she be anymore perfect?" Reiner spoke when the three had made it out of hearing range, bringing everyone's attention back to the table.
"I didn't know she knew my name..." You picked up the paper that Reiner had placed before you once more, folding it up and tucking it away in your pocket.
"Hah? You realize that we've all been together for over three years now, right?" Jean seemed to have finished his meal as well as he leaned his face against his palm, elbow on the table.
"Yeah, but I mean – it's not like I've ever really talked to her or anything. I was a little surprised is all."
"You're an idiot is all." Jean pinched your nose as he stood up.
"That hurt, Jean." You grabbed your nose, looking up at him as he gave a small stretch.
"You're hungry, right? I'll grab a meal for you so just wait there." You didn't get a chance to reply before Jean was already making his way across the room.
"What a nice guy, huh?" Reiner smiled teasingly.
"The words Jean and nice don't belong in the same sentence unless they're separated by the word isn't." Connie spoke as he finished off the last of his meal as well.
"You'd be surprised. You should have seen him the first few days I was in the infirmary – it was actually scary how nice he was being." You joined the conversation despite your previous hesitation, feeling a little more comfortable now that the number of people had decreased.
"I can imagine – actually, you should have seen him when you didn't show up that day. I never thought I'd see Jean act like that no matter what the situation." Reiner answered casually but your attention peaked. Everyone had been mentioning it but what exactly happened, even? Jean didn't give you any details so you were still curious as to how the scene played out.
"Act like what, exactly?" Hopefully Reiner would be the one to fill you in.
"You don't know? It was a damn sight to see, seriously. I mean, sure – I understand he was worried and all but he looked just about ready to take the Corporal head on when they said he wasn't permitted to look for you. We literally had to drag him back, you know?" Reiner sighed at the memory. Had Jean really caused that big of a scene?
"It couldn't have been too bad, right? Please tell me it wasn't that bad."
"I didn't know it was possible to switch back and forth between worry and anger so quickly. The Corporal looked just about ready to put him in his place, too. They argued for a solid ten minutes before they ordered us to take him back." You couldn't help but blush ever so lightly at the explanation. You would have been better off not hearing, wouldn't you? Sure, you were dating and all... and sure, you knew that Jean cared for you – but was he always so upfront with his emotions?
"He bitched the entire way back, too." Connie added.
Yeah, he was. That was definitely Jean Kirschtein for you.
"I can't imagine he was happy when the Corporal was the one that found me in the end, huh?" You could only imagine those two horrible personalities butting heads.
"Are you kidding? He ran out of here the second the Corporal finished his sentence. Left his meal practically untouched without hesitation." Reiner answered.
"I'd say he was happy that you had been found regardless of the other circumstances." Bertholdt finally spoke up just as you had almost forgotten about his presence.
"That's... kind of embarrassing to hear, honestly." You hoped that the heat in your face wasn't visible.
"What's embarrassing?" Jean's voice came from behind you before anyone had the chance to reply as he approached the table once more. He placed a tray of food before you and took his spot once more, "Hurry up and eat so we can leave."
"And go where, Jean? Stop being so gross together in public." Connie commented from the other side of Jean as he stood up, speaking again before Jean had a chance to reply, "I still have chores. What about you guys?"
"We took care of them before eating so you're on your own." Reiner answered as Connie sighed, slumping his shoulders slightly as he left the table.
"Is he an idiot? I'm for sure going to pick him to spar with tomorrow." Jean's eyebrows furrowed together.
"Is that a question? He's definitely an idiot." You answered as you began you meal. Maybe it was your nerves or excitement but you had had trouble getting the food down at lunch, where as to now everything tasted amazing on your tongue.
"I see you guy's are completely in sync – how cute." Reiner teased once more as he stood up as well, stretching out as Bertholdt followed his lead.
"I change my mind – you're going to be my partner, Reiner." Jean glared as the two boy's grabbed their trays, turning to leave as Reiner chuckled at Jean's response.
"You're on, Jean. I'll try to be gentle so that you won't replace _'s spot in the infirmary."
"I'd like to see you try it. I'll destroy you if you don't give it your all, Reiner." The well-built boy waved a hand in acknowledgement as the two walked away, leaving Jean and you alone at the once almost full table.
"If your going to partner with Reiner than who's going to spar with me?" You spoke as Jean gave a sigh.
"Huh? You're not even allowed to participate, idiot." Jean shifted, leaning his against his fist as he turned to his side to face you.
"Don't forget you promised to help me train, though. We're starting today." You weren't sure if you came off as serious as you chewed off a bit of your cooked potato.
"Did you even read that paper? It's not just your shoulder but your back isn't up for anything close to training. I'll kill you if you even try." Jean's eyebrows furrowed once more and his tone was scolding.
"But I finally got out of there - not even a little?" You knew you sounding like a child whining but it was a little bit endearing to see Jean get so angry for your sake and so you continued.
"Depends on how fast you want to die I guess." Jean flicked your forehead harder than you had expected causing you to flinch backwards a little.
"You're not as nice today as you were when I was in the infirmary. You don't want to comfort me anymore or something?" You jokingly pouted as you teased Jean a little more than usual. Perhaps it was because finally getting out of the infirmary had put you in such a good mood or something but you felt a little livelier than your usual self.
"You don't exactly look like you need comforting. Although if you just want to be close to me like before I'll be happy to spend the night in your room today." Jean's glare receded as he regained his usual annoyingly-obvious grin. Apparently you pressed on the right – or probably wrong – button.
"Y-You're an idiot." You couldn't help but be a bit angry at how easily he always turned the situation around to his favor.
"You started it. What, you don't wanna play anymore?" Jean leaned forward a little as you turned back towards your tray, focusing your attention on the meal in front of you instead of that almost seductively-teasing smile.
"You're too close, Jean. I'm trying to eat." You tried to dismiss the previous conversation. But since it was Jean there was no way it'd be so easy, right?
"Weren't you the one pressing yourself against me earlier? There's still space between us so shouldn't you be saying 'Come closer, Jean' instead?" Jean leaned in closer and you shifted further away, refusing to acknowledge the heat in your cheeks as you quickly ate the meal in front of you.
"Don't run away, _. It's been a week since you've been in the infirmary so you should be excited you finally get to sleep in the same bed as me again, right? Wasn't it hard to sleep without me?" Jean coiled a finger into one of your belt loops to keep you from shuffling away as he half-whispered the words.
"Hardly. Are you forgetting the medication? I've been sleeping like a damn log. I'd be fine even if you didn't come for a while actually."
"Isn't saying that the same as admitting you need me there when your not on medication? Well, it's not ideal but at least you're being a little more honest." Jean's grin didn't fade even as you tried to brush off his taunts.
"Idiot – stop sitting so close." You leaned your face away from his as you grabbed the glass of water Jean had brought you along with your meal. The faster you finished everything in front of you, the faster you could escape this incredibly unpleasant situation.
Unpleasant, yes – and yet there was a part of you that didn't hate it. Although you'd probably never admit that fact under any circumstances for as long as you lived.
"Oh, are you done already? What's the hurry?" Jean followed as you stood up, grabbing your tray and walking quickly towards the other side of the room. Jean leisurely strolled behind, smirk plastered on his face at his success. Pouting a little at your loss, you didn't say anything as you made towards the large doors you had entered from once more.
And of course – just as expected, Jean came with you. Not that you were really complaining or hoping for otherwise, though.
"What, you're ignoring me now? That's not very nice, _." Jean intentionally dragged out your name in mockery of your earlier actions as he walked beside you through the halls towards your room.
"Not really. I'm just excited to finally sleep in my own bed again after so long." Coming up to your door you still refused to turn your head to face him even though you could clearly seem him peering towards you.
"Only because you finally get to spend the night with me again, right?"
"Keep dreaming." You dismissed his words but you didn't bother shutting the room door behind you as you entered, either.
"Be more honest with yourself, _. Didn't you promise you wouldn't run away or something like that? You're happy and you know it." Taking your indirect invitation Jean closed the door behind him as you took a seat on the bed, pulling your boots off and placing them beside the bed.
"Didn't you promise to help me train? I'll say whatever you want me to if you start today." You tried to glare at the boy but he didn't seem to notice as he stripped free from his jacket and harnesses, tossing them casually onto the chair at your desk. When did he get so comfortable treating your room like his own?
"You don't know when to give up, do you? It might have been better if Hanji kept you for another week."
"Not funny." You crawled underneath the blankets as Jean made his way towards the bed.
"Fine, I get it. But you still need rest so calm down a little will you? Nothing big. How about we start with your legs tomorrow?" He let out a sigh, giving into your demands a little as he stripped his boots and placed them off to the side of the bed beside your own.
"My legs?" You shifted to the side a little as Jean crawled underneath the covers beside you. There was definitely something wrong with this situation, right? A part of you still worried that there was probably something inherently bad about getting so comfortable with this whole arrangement.
"Yeah. Your endurance is fine but you should work on speed." It didn't seem like Jean shared your worries, though, as he laid onto his back.
"...Okay. Tomorrow, then." You nodded and fell back as well, deciding to ignore your worries for another night.
"Are you happy now? You'd seriously wreck yourself if you didn't have me around to keep you in check." You could see his small smile as he turned to his side, not hesitating in the slightest to snake his arm around you waist and shift closer. Was he being cautious of your injuries still? Usually he would have just pulled you against him without bothering to pay attention to his force.
"Yeah. Let's go to sleep early today, okay? So you can't make any excuses tomorrow." Maybe it was because you hadn't spent the night with the boy for a week so your tolerance had worn off or perhaps it was the horrible thoughts he had placed in your mind earlier, but you definitely felt your heart speed up a little when his lips brushed against the nape of your neck.
"Mm. Goodnight, _."
"Goodnight, Jean."
Hello again! This chapter ended up taking a little longer than I had planned because editing sucks. I rewrote it about a million times before I got here -.- I'm horrible. But now that it's finally here I hope you will enjoy it! And thank you for reading, also w