"You're not sleeping."

Armin pushed a berry deeper into his oats.

"I sleep," he protested. He did not have to lift his head to know the face she was making.

"Not well."

She was right, but he had nothing to say about his dreamless nights. Unforgiving rest that seemed empty. And it was not that he could not sleep, because he could and he did.

So that was not a lie. He slept.

Mikasa's fingers grazed his forearm and he started though the touch was welcome. He closed a hand over hers before she could draw away. Not that she would. She would stay quietly like this until he withdrew. There was nothing to say.

Most days he could forget, most of the day. He could lose himself to work, to task, to asking Hange any question at all that would keep her talking. And most days were ok. Some fine, even.

Today was somewhere in between.

Mikasa emerged from their bedroom at the sound of his return. Her expression was the same as it had been at breakfast, now washed in afternoon light.

"How was work?"

He hated how he made her worry.

"Good," he chose to say. Her brow raised in tentative relief.

"That's good," she encouraged, a slight smile tempting her mouth. He met it with his own - a real one.

"What about you?"

"Good," she answered, mouth widening. The weight against his ribs seemed less.

He sat closer to her than usual at their small table over a late dinner. Her elbow collided and food abandoned her cutlery for the tabletop. He couldn't remember the last time she had dropped something. His laugh caught them both by surprise.

Her head nestled into his shoulder and he closed his eyes with a long breath to empty his lungs. At least he was less of a burden tonight.

Her lips brushed his jaw and time felt suddenly substantial. It was always falling through his fingers lately, hour after hour until the days had faded and the calendar had changed. But the minutes were tangible once more at her touch. Reaching, he felt the curve of her neck beneath his fingertips. How long had it been since he had held her?

A catch of her breath betrayed hope. His brow knit at the thought. Maybe if he were stronger she wouldn't have had to be so -

He opened his eyes to push out whatever train of thought was worming itself to consciousness. Not now. Not when they could have each other.

They always had each other.

The idea bloomed in his chest as his nose bumped her cheek. She moved first though with lips eager against his.

He returned it with a want that rose all at once. Her palm crept up his chest and settled. Grounded him. She always kept him grounded. A tightness knotted within him. She parted her lips.

He moaned.

She all but pushed him to the bed. She could have pushed him if she wanted. But it was no time for games he agreed without a sound, save the air that rushed from his lungs as her mouth graced his neck, his shoulder, his chest.

He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her flush to him. He buried his face in dark strands and pressed easy kisses down her cheek.

"Armin," she sighed. His hips strained against hers without thought. She threatened the stitching of his buttons as she pried his shirt away. Her arms were warm and strong under his hands as he slid her sweater down them. She shed her shirt herself and he knew very well by now when she was feeling impatient.

He fell face first to the crook of her neck. Her skin was so warm to the touch. So soft.

"Mikasa," he murmured. If only he could tell her how sorry he was for the trouble he had caused her but he knew she would never hear it.

But he was sorry. He pressed a thumb into her hip. A groan sounded in his ear.

He was sorry for the mornings he couldn't carry a conversation as he traced the dip of her thigh. Her breath shook at his fingers, searching further.

He was sorry he went straight to sleep most nights, falling right back into the next morning. His hand stuttered. Mikasa pulled back.

He was doing it again. His eyes opened to find her understanding gaze.

"Are you ok?"

He nodded. They were here, right now. They had each other. A new smile stretched his lips.

"I'm ok."

She pushed him to the mattress this time. He shuddered at the breeze of their fan across his bare skin. At the heat of her hand. A sound pushed up from his throat and then another.

He reached back between her thighs, circling his fingers until she had cries of her own. His eyes closed again but it was impossible to get lost in his thoughts this time. His finger was warm where it slipped into her and back again to find her pleasure. Her breath quickened at his cheek.

Mikasa strained. Her weight dropped heavy against him as he followed, moaning into her cheek.

The sounds of their breathing slowly reached him. He pulled his arm from under her and wrapped her shoulders with it instead. She nestled closer. Air washed over his flushed cheeks. Maybe rest would come to him willingly tonight and not simply happen because he willed it to. He gradually combed her hair with his fingers. Her slow and steady breaths lulled him further towards the verge of sleep.

"Be right back," she whispered.

Armin hummed in disapproval at the loss of her warmth at his side. She was back in an instant though and he realized he had drifted off. Her head was heavy where she laid it back on his shoulder. He curled into her as her hand worked its way up his chest.

"Armin."

But he was so comfortable. Mikasa repeated her quiet request.

"Armin."

He groaned and rolled into her until he found the rest of her and slid an arm around her waist. She laughed so low and so short he almost missed it. She was so warm.

"It's time to get up."

His eyes wrenched themselves open then slammed back shut at the morning light that invaded the room. He buried his face in her side. She laughed fully and he couldn't help but echo it with a chuckle.

"You slept well."

"Mhm," he agreed, muffled from where he continued to block out the sun. A chill snuck down his spine at her fingers moving slowly through his hair and down his neck. Her nails grazed his bare shoulders and he sank even further into the mattress beside her.

"You don't work today," he half asked. Sometimes, lately, he lost track of her schedule.

"No."

"Let's go somewhere."

"You want to?"

Her excitement was palpable. He squeezed his arm tighter around her. At least he could do better today. He nodded and agreed with another hum. Her hand paused. Flattened across his shoulder blades.

"Ok," she breathed, "Where?"

"Anywhere."