Day 4: College AU

Summary: Armin doesn't get paid enough to be Mikasa's and Eren's couple therapist, not when he wasn't a therapist, and not when their friends weren't even a couple (yet)

If Armin was given a dollar every time he had to clarify the moronic misunderstandings that happened between his two best friends, he might have like 6 dollars by now, which is not that much, but it was weird enough that it happened that many times, every normal person would think that this kind of things didn't happen between them considering the time they had known each other

If only…

- Are you fucking kidding me right now, 'Kasa!? What was that bullshit!? Let me down already! - There he was, yelling like his life was in danger, squirming in a vain attempt to get free, with face redder than the scarf of the one person carrying him to inside the room they all shared on the campus

Making his wish come true, she dropped him on the floor, making him let out a - Fuck! - in pain, all meanwhile he was watching them from the sofa, one of Harry Potter's movie playing on the tv, thinking about how he had to defuse this situation quickly before they started to bother their neighbors with their argument again

Once she closed the door, she came to stand in front of him, arms crossed and a scornful gaze on her face - I should be the one asking you that, Why in the hell did you think it was a good idea to go god-knows-where to get wasted without telling me a thing!? -

- Guys come on, it's eleven o clock already, Can't this wait until tomorrow? - Great, not just Eren was in the mood for a fight, she wasn't one to curse on a usual basis after all

- I don't know, maybe because the last three times I told you where I was gonna be you dragged me out of the party!? - Clearly ignoring him, he answered back, now on his feet and rubbing the hurt away from his back

- And who's fault is that?! I can't let you go on your own when you go to parties or else you end up in the hospital by an ethylic coma or a fight! Isn't that right, Armin? - Acknowledging his presence she asked him, like trying to make him take her side

- I don't really want to sa-

- Are you serious!? That was eight years ago! I am not the goddamn kid you had to take care of anymore! You tell her Armin! - Right, now he wanted him on his side

- Maybe If you just tried to talk things out pacifi-

- That's a fucking lie and you know it! Just a week ago you were about to start a fight with your own brother just because of his opinion about politics! -

- Just because I can be very rude when it comes to arguments doesn't mean I'll throw hands at everyone I disagree with! Zeke is my family and I wouldn't hurt him for something as worthless as that! You still think I'm the same asshole I was when I was fifteen years old, Don't you!? That's why you still treat me like a fucking child, Am I wrong!? -

- Yes you are wrong, Eren, I don't think you are an "asshole", but when you do things that can put you in danger I can not help but-

- What!? Now having fun is dangerous for me!? Give a break! Now It's clear that you think I am the sam-

- Can you two just SHUT UP for a motherfucking second!? - Quickly, the both of them turned their gaze into the direction from where it came the outburst, seeing his blonde friend almost red from what it looked like anger - I swear to god! You two are practically adults but for some reason sometimes you behave like the dumbest children I've ever met in my goddamn life! I don't get paid enough for this crap! -

Silence was the only thing that filled the room for a good couple of seconds

- … But, you don't get paid at-

- Shut the hell up I said! -

As If he was getting threatened, the green-eyed man raised his arms in surrender

- Right - Now breathing in and out to calm himself, he continued - Now, we are gonna settle this once and for all, because I'm getting sick of you and your dumb fights and because it's not possible that in a whole damn life of friendship and almost being seniors in college you still don't know about something as simple as fucking communication... -

Silently, they both nodded in approbation, not really wanting to deal with whatever would happen to them if they ever tried to say anything

- Lets start with something simple then…Tell her what it bothers you about her, Eren, this time without yelling, please - He said in his neutral voice, his gaze on the tall man on his left

- … Do I really have to?...- A shameful expression took his face, not wanting to have this conversation

- Why the hell are you doubtin- Of course you idiot! You already did it anyway! Do it before I do it in your place! and this time try to word it in a better way! -

- Alright I get it! relax man… - Sweat started to accumulate on his forehead before he put his sight on her and started to speak - I… I just don't like it when you baby or when you treat me like I am your son or something like that, It doesn't feel right with me -

Finally he tought, taking pride in the fact that he made him be honest with anyone for once

Unfortunately, he knew that was not what was bothering him, but at least it was good enough to work on it

Going back to her, she only could blink in response, not really sure what to say besides - Do you… do you hate it that much when I take care of you? -

Oh, yes, no wonder why they always ended in fights like these, for some reason they like to make assumptions about each other instead of asking directly, this was probably the biggest issue about people that met a long while a go, they always tend to believe that they know what's is the other person thinking, just because they think they know the person enough to understand them without actually trying to communicate with them…

Long term friendships can sometimes be a double-edged bitch huh…

- He actuallly loves it - He clarified quickly - For him, there's not a better thing in the world than the fact that you care for him the most - He could already hear the little gasp that came from him - It's just that it hurts his pride to know that despite all the time he spent trying to become a better version of himself you still treat him like a kid, making him think that you won't see him as a man you can be proud of and start a romantic relationship with- And with that, he dropped the bomb that threatened to explode from a long long time, a toothy grin making its way to his face the moment he realized what he just did

The eyes of the tanned skin man expanded in horror, choking on his own spit while trying to kill his friend by trying to make holes in his skull with his death gaze - What the hell Armin!? -, all meanwhile the Asiatic girl just opened her mouth in surprise, now founding herself speechless with that revelation

- I... I don't know what to say, This... this is -

- You can talk about that all you want when I'm not present - Armin interrupted her this time - Right now my task here is to make the both of you understand each other, now -

Giving her his full attention, he started - Can you please explain to him your reasoning behind your actions this night, Mikasa? -

She was caught out of guard a little by this, not thinking that he was going to ask her that

- What do you mean? You already said it, I treat him like that because he's one of the people I care about the most. Not because I see him as a kid or because I think he's hopeless without me, I have always known that Eren is able to stand his ground and be able to make the best choice when it comes to dealing with problems, I just want to be on his side if anything happens to him -

He had to be impressed by the fact that he made her say all that, considering how she can be when it comes to sharing her feelings, and for the looks of it, Eren was too, considering how his ears burned by how red they looked

Still, even he knows that's not all

- Oh. Really? Why did you say that he was lying when he told you he wasn't the same person he was seven years ago though? Isn't that a contradiction with what you just said? - A smug grin appeared on his face the moment she was taken back by the question

- I… I just let myself get caught in the heat of the discussion, I don't actually think Eren is the same kid he was when he was fifteen,- Now turning her gaze towards the man in front of her, she proceeded - I apologize for making you think I did, Eren… - Shyly she responded, making Eren's facial expression softer

- Do you really, Mikasa? - Answered the blonde once again, trying to make her say what she and he both know but that Eren needed to know too

This time was Eren who spoke - Come on Armin, Why are you asking that? It's okay I forgive her -

- No no, I'm saying it not because I don't think she was sorry, I asked because I want to let her say the true intentions she's trying to hide behind that sorry excuse of a cover, everyone knows that Mikasa doesn't commit mistakes that evident - He wanted to let out his evil laugh at that, it was the first time he used his manipulation skills with both of them, and if he was being honest he likes it

- Armiiin - She actually begged, gaze downcast and red all over her face, the scarf around her face actually hiding some of it

- Hey Eren, do you want to know why Mikasa started to act so weird that time when you got paired with Sasha for a performance at our shared Theather class? -

- Why do you insist on making me say it anyways!? -

- Because in that way Eren will understand you better, and I will save me from more headaches you both can cause me with all your fights, anyways, Eren, do you remember that time Historia got drunk and mistook you from Ymir and Mikasa almos-

- Alright I get it! Let me be the one to say it! - The sight of an always stoic and upright Mikasa actually behaving like a nervous teenage girl will be always something that Armin will keep on his mind every time he wanted to laugh at something - The real reason why I take you out of those parties was that I didn't want you to fall in love with someone else without at least telling you how I felt about you, that's it, are you happy now? -

The news came at Eren like cold water, only letting out a little - Huh? -

- Yeah, pretty much, but I hope just are the most benefited for this talk - Standing up from the couch, he started to stretch his limbs - Anyway, now that everything was sorted up, I'll go to sleep, since I, unlike you, got important places to be tomorrow, good night you two, don't stay up too late! - And giving then his last smug grin and a raised thumb, he went to his room

The two of them just could ask themselves What the hell just happened

Armin didn't consider himself a couple-therapist at all, relationships weren't his forte and therapy itself it's kind of difficult to apply. but when he saw the next morning his two best friends all cuddled on the sofa, with Eren's face painted in its entirety by Mikasa's black lipstick and with her throat marked with all kinds of red marks, he wanted both to pat himself on the back a puke his recently eaten eggs with toast, maybe do both at the same time if it was possible

Just when he saw how they actually started to talk things out and made up a sort of mechanism where Eren could enjoy his parties only If he made sure to let her know he was doing okay it was the time when he considered seriously offering his new acquired skill to the rest of the couples at his campus