"Yo," his large body was against the door frame. He had his bulky arms crossed and Armin could practically trace every vein and tendon with his eyes. "Where's Historia?"
"She went out riding," Armin smiled, peeking up from behind his glasses as he sat at his desk, reading over the latest tech magazine. His completed homework was neatly tucked into a folder nearby. "Was she expecting you?"
"Hn." Reiner grunted, glancing around the room. "You took down the posters."
For the longest time, Armin had posters of his favorite bands and other shows he loved, but he begrudgingly took them down after the summer—he felt like they'd make him seem younger, naive, and a bit stupid.
Some men liked that in him—that innocent, virgin look. Not as much as they liked it when they sprayed their—
"Yeah, I'm sort of over that sort of thing." Armin chuckled, taking off his glasses and brushing a piece of hair behind his hair. "It was time to grow up."
Reiner smiled a bit at that comment.
"You? Grow up? You haven't really grown an inch." Reiner finally pushed off the door frame and went towards Armin, giving his full attention. Armin grinned a little wider as he watched Reiner's strong body came right up close—he could smell that sweet sweat and hint of cologne on him. A real man's smell—a musk with a hint of cleanliness.
Armin couldn't help but take a big inhale as he played it off with an even louder exhale.
"You always tease me." Armin doubted Reiner would ever get the double meaning but he didn't mind. Stupid men were cute in their own ways—easier to seduce, better to fuck. They always took what they wanted without consideration.
Reiner chuckled, peering at the magazine Armin was browsing.
"Just giving you a hard time," he placed his hand on the back of Armin's chair. His large, pronounced hands could probably wrap around Armin's entire thigh—right. They could.
"You sure like to do that." Armin mumbled, feeling his face redden at remembering how Reiner about took him one night. It was the last day of middle school and they had a bonfire night with all their friends. Somehow, Bertolt let Reiner get drunk and actually let him do his thing. An hour later, Armin was on his knees in a wooded area nearby, sucking Reiner's balls and having Reiner prematurely blow his load all over his face.
God.
Bertolt had a crush on Reiner ever since Armin met the two. It was so painfully obvious but Reiner was such a fucking idiot and thick that he couldn't tell the difference between 'just friends' and 'please fuck me against a counter'.
Like just right now.
Oh, and the fact he couldn't see that with Historia either.
Reiner was being very weird actually. Armin realized the two hadn't spoke for awhile as Reiner just gazed at the magazine, his fingers drumming on the back of Armin's chair, and Armin became very aware of Reiner's chest being almost right against his head. He could feel the boy's—no, man's heat radiating off of him.
"How long do you think she'll take?" Reiner asked. "I tried to text but she must be out of service."
"I don't know," Armin answered quickly. "She literally just left not too long ago."
"Ugh." Reiner clicked his tongue, moving to go to Armin's bed and flopped down onto it, gathering his pillows and nestling into them. "She's always ignoring my texts and calls and only answering every now and then."
Funny.
Whenever Armin saw her out of her room, she was always texting.
Ymir this, Ymir that—that's how Historia functioned.
"Yeah, she's bad about that," Armin turned himself in his seat to face Reiner's direction. "Sorry 'bout that."
"Nah," Reiner put his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. "Not your fault."
Holy fuck—he was getting ripped. No longer was his face pudgy like it was in middle school. There was a distinct jawline coming through and a pronounced nose, making Reiner look so much older than he was.
"You worry a lot," Armin crossed his legs with a blush. "Maybe you should try to relax a bit more? I'm sure she'd get back to you soon. She can't go too far with her horse."
"If I liked horses, I'd go riding after," Reiner lamented. "I swear, it feels like she hates me."
Armin didn't know how to answer that. Historia really didn't like Reiner beyond a friend and here he was hung up on her. If it was a year or two ago, Armin would've spilled the tea to him, but ever since they had that encounter this was the first real conversation they had.
Armin was afraid Reiner hated him after that. If he remembered that is…
Sometimes, Armin felt like he hated Reiner, too, because they lost their friendship and Reiner didn't seem to care at all—he just replaced him with Jean and now Historia.
It wasn't like he liked liked him. Reiner wasn't really his type but he did have a good looking cock…
"I don't hate you," Armin doubted Reiner would care about his opinion. He probably didn't know what he was talking about either.
Reiner must've heard because he didn't say anything at all. He just listened and his socked foot wiggled about nervously.
Armin felt stupid he even said it—Reiner was probably trying to forget the whole thing didn't happen. He probably was wondering why he even bothered to check in on him. Stupid fucking—Armin wished he kept his mouth shut—
"I don't hate you either," Reiner's voice was a little quiet, devoid of his usual boyish charm and confidence. "I could never hate you, dude."
Slowly, too slow, Reiner got up on his elbows to look at Armin.
Armin almost wanted to die with the look Reiner gave—that look from that one night.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
-x-x-x-
"I'm glad you're having a good time back home," I smiled, twirling a piece of hair between my fingers. Ymir's voice was always calmer on the phone than in person. She spoke gently as if her voice would break me.
"Yeah, it's pretty alright. Sasha and Connie had an eating competition. Now they can't get off the toilets." Ymir softly snickered. "You could hear Sasha fart to death a mile away."
I choked on my breath, laughing out loud, listening to Ymir's cheeky giggle and my own.
The birch forest became my favorite place—it was always quiet and beautiful here. It was my escape from everything. Especially unexpected Reiner visits now that I knew he wouldn't chase after.
All he sent was an unanswered text about where I was. That was nine minutes ago.
How lucky I was to not get a call this time.
"Say," Ymir cleared her throat, "when I get back on Sunday, do you want to… meet up…? Unless your gorilla—"
"The monkey isn't on my back that day." I felt myself grin but there was no chuckle in response. Maybe I should stick to not joking.
"Yeah…" Ymir's tone changed, "there's something I want to talk to you about, too. Um, nothing too bad or anything. Just things."
"Things?" I frowned.
"Um, yeah. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow, okay? I have to go right now. Grandma wants me to go out and get some Pepto for Connie and Sasha. She's tired of them hogging the bathrooms." There came the beloved chuckle I was hoping to hear.
"Mm that might be important. I will let you—" oh.
An opportunity.
"I will let you get your shit done."
"Yeah, thank— did you just fucking make a pun?"
Silence.
"Um," I had to admit, it was an awful pun, "…yes."
I inwardly cringed as Ymir exhaled loudly.
"That was awful and you should feel awful."
"Trust me. I do."
"Hah. Good. Anyways, I need to go. I will talk to you tomorrow, Krista."
"Okay. I will see you… bye."
There was always that pause at the end. It was forever awkward as if something was missing.
"Bye." Ymir blurted and hung up.
I felt dejected as I saw my horse impatiently watching me. I knew I had to go back and face Reiner soon. He wasn't going to leave until he at least saw me.
"Fine," I answered my horse's pleading look. "Let's go back. I bet you miss your friends."
-x-x-x-
"Ah, Historia!" Father was in the mudroom, washing his hands and smiling. He always seemed so happy lately. Every time he saw me, I could feel pride beam from him. "I was just about to ask for you!"
"Hi, dad," I went over to his open arms and hugged him as his scratchy mustache prickled and scratched the top of my head.
"Ah, my little girl," he seemed content as he pulled away, drying his hands on a nearby towel and turning off the sink. "Reiner came in a while looking for you. Pixis said his car is still here. He's waiting in the parlor."
"Ah, right," I feigned shame and forgetfulness, "I've been so bad about remembering. I hope he forgives me."
Not.
"I'm sure he is! You're such an angel!" Father put his hand on my back. It sent unpleasant feelings down my back. I really did hate it when people touched my back without permission. Mostly… I hated when men touched me…
I shook my head.
"You're too kind," I followed my dad through the halls and into the main foyer, finding it empty. Pixis even came in with tea and cookies, frowning.
"I swear," Pixis hummed, glancing about, "Mister Braun was here just ten minutes ago. Perhaps he went to your room, Miss Historia?"
I felt my throat tighten.
"I don't think so," I bit my tongue, "Reiner wouldn't—"
"Reiner wouldn't be that kind of lad," father intervened, "he knows that it's improper to wait in a lady's personal chambers. He must've went to bide time with my son!"
"Ah, you're right, sir," Pixis bowed a little, "pardon my assumptions. I don't know why I jumped the gun."
Pixis seemed perplexed as he sat the tea and biscotti down.
"I must attend to a phone call. Excuse me." Pixis left back into the kitchen as father walked over, snatching a treat and stuffing his mouth.
"Hm, let's go pay them a visit." Father nodded, sucking on his crumby fingers. "The boys are good friends, y'know."
"Armin told me," amongst other things. I smiled, walking beside my father as he escorted me down Armin's part of the mansion. "He said he knew him since he was very young."
"Of course! We know the Braun family rather well—Reiner's father and me used to be thick as thieves as kids! Riding our horses and going everywhere the sun touched—it's no doubt that Armin and Reiner share the same bond!" Father was rambling as he usually did but it was hard not to smile when he was so passionate about their friendship.
"Armin is a smaller boy, I'm afraid. He isn't much in stature but he at least makes it up with confidence and intellect and charisma! Now, when Reiner began to become a man, I hoped he'd rub off on Armin and Armin would pick up his good habits of working out and playing good sports like football. While it didn't do much yet, I think Armin will really come around to it! It's good to play sports with your friends! If he's anything like me, and like how Reiner is just like his father, those two will be like brothers and it's important to nurture that relationship!"
We were nearing Armin's room and I could hear Armin's phone going off. It kept ringing and ringing as we got closer.
"It's hard to have those deeply rooted relationships with you're older! People become bitter and apathetic! Though, you are an angel, a ray of sunshine, Historia—you will always be this sweet girl and soon woman to your friends and future husband!" Father continued on and on as we got to the door.
"I just hope that Reiner and Armin don't forget their friendship," he emphasized, "I know for awhile he stopped coming around, but I figured he was busy with summer activities and football, but I am so glad, my dear, that they—" father opened Armin's door.
And I gaped as I saw Reiner's sweaty, dimpled ass ramming into Armin. Reiner's hand was reaching around Armin's front, jerking him quick and hard.
I shot father a look and saw his whole goes white as I averted my gaze to the ground. I saw naked bodies—I saw a man's hand—I heard Papa's yell and the bruises on my shoulder and neck throb in pain, the saliva—
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?" Father's bellow shook the house as Armin's phone kept ringing like a lifeline as I ran away, feeling tears run down my face.
I didn't want to think of it—
Not the night. Not that. I was over it—
"HISTORIA!" Reiner's voice was strained as Armin screeched back and everything became a blur as the world felt surreal.
What was going on?
