Tumblr prompt: "It's not fair that you're hot and funny." - "Look who's talking…just kidding, your jokes suck."

Tumblr prompt: "Your voice is sexy." - "Your ass is sexy."

Modern AU Ereani! Eren is a little punk, and Annie is a bit promiscuous~


He's a Catch


Dating was a game to her. Like picking the ripest cherries from a bush, tossing the rotten ones away. Gathering them all in her basket, not to eat. But just to say that she had them. She couldn't very well take romance seriously, it was kind of suffocating to her, really.

The bringing your loved one flowers, the holding hands, giggling in public. The hidden innuendo behind every joke, just say she's got a damn fine ass instead of throwing words around! She's by now used to men who disguise their flirting behind playful banter. She's all smiles when they crack a joke, but leisurely rolling her eyes on the inside.

She wasn't so much a prude however, she did enjoy heavy make-out sessions from time to time, maybe a bit of groping, but that's only in private, and only when said date passed all ten of her expectations. Many seldom got the chance. She had never taken it so far, except on one occasion when she'd been a teenager- well, perhaps two, but the second time, she had been drunk, and so had her date. So that couldn't count, could it?

At twenty-two, Annie Leonhardt had began to challenge herself with finding a person to match her own ferocity, to counter her, to pick her up when she was down, and to hold her high when she was on middle-ground. It's not something she spent to much of her time on. But… she was a bit lonely.

And while her closest friends- all two of them- had begun getting hitched, and sporting big round belly's, she had adopted three cats, and shared a studio with her father, who snored louder than a jet engine.

That was not to say that she wanted to get married right away, no not at all, even the thought having kids made a shudder run down her back. She just wasn't ready for that responsibility. Not yet, anyway.

But, there she was, fitted in a silk white blouse, the hem low, teasing some cleavage, jeans black, clinging to her slender legs, and quarter inch polished heels that made her feet ache like a bitch.

Her blonde hair was in it's usual updo, but she had taken care to brush some of her bangs out of her eyes. Added with some light makeup, she didn't look at all like she had just come back from running a marathon. Which she had, because she had forgotten her date with a man named Bertolt was today.

The poor man. He was fidgeting again as she stared him down from across the finely dined table littered with their empty plates. It irked her.

She cleared her throat. "So, I just got a call while I was in the restroom from my father, says he's gotten the flu, I think I might head home earlier tonight, just in case he might need me there."

An excuse. She had a plethora of them, all revolving around her father. He's gotten so many illnesses in her lies, it's no wonder he hasn't caught a disease for real. God forbid it, of course.

Bertolt blinked owlishly, mouth open, then closing like a gaping fish. "Oh, but I- I mean we haven't had dessert yet?"

"I'm pretty full, actually. Dinner was great, thank you for bringing me to such a lavish place. You always know where to find the best prime rib." She added a small smile at the end. Ready to make or break. Though she waited until their waiter came. Not many of her dates were keen on paying the full price for both their meals, and Annie was sometimes too proud to let them, but if they offered, well, she didn't argue with that.

"Well uh," Bertolt dabbed rib sauce from his lip with a napkin, "Let me at least drive you home, it's dark out, I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

She heard that line before one too many times.

"Oh, no need to go through the trouble, the bus stop is right across the street. But thanks for the offer."

"Bus stop?" Bertolt furrowed his brows, seeming offended on her behalf that she'd stoop to taking local transit. Annie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Rich people were like that sometimes. Bertolt drove a shiny black fully insured Lexus. The windows were darkly tinted, and the interior smelled of pine needles, new car, and whatever cologne Bertolt doused himself with for the day. Not exactly bad, in fact she loved the smell and comfortable seats.

But Annie was more of a middle-class BMW kind of girl. Hell, she'd sign to get a cheap old sedan if she absolutely needed it, and not because she wanted it.

Public transit wasn't all bad, either. She liked the long rides home. She also knew if she went with Bertolt, something might occur when he dropped her off. LIke a goodbye kiss, or a goodbye hug. Annie wasn't one for goodbyes. Cold as that made her, she'd like to avoid the hurt expressions if she could. The date had gone alright, but, Bertolt was not the one for her.

Annie shrugged. "I'll be alright."

"Really? At this hour?"

She said with a shake of her head. "I'll be alright."

"No, no, no." Bertolt argued, though gently. "Please, allow me to drive you home! It's really no trouble for me at all, just give me your address and I'll-"

The waiter seemed to pop from thin air then, walking right up to their table with a smile plastered on his face.

"Hello! How was the meal? Are we quite done here? Would you like to order a dessert?"

Bertolt looked to the waiter, then to Annie, then to the waiter once more. "I- yes, and no to dessert. It was a splendid meal, thank you, Colt. I'll take the check now, please."

"Right away." The waiter spun on his heel.

Annie reached into her purse, pulling out a thick black wallet. Bertolt put his hand up. "Oh no, no! Please let me take this, my treat."

Annie slowly put her wallet back.

Bertolt cleared his throat, maybe wanting to say something else. But he chose not too. So Annie spoke up before the spell of awkward silence could take over their table.

"I really enjoyed tonight, Bertolt. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere here is very calm, so thank you for this."

Prim and cut. Just as she practiced.

Bertolt looked delighted. Smiling slightly. "Anytime Annie, no, anytime, really! I love being around you, a-and talking with you," he cleared his throat again, "and, just, I hope to take you out again, maybe?"

Annie sunk her teeth into her bottom lip, looking away. Appearing to consider a third date with him. When she glanced over to Bertolt, he was sweating, not profusely, but there was some moisture dotting his forehead. Poor man.

She was silent for another twenty seconds, looking out the vast window into the flashy city outside. Then she told him, "Maybe." But had meant to say 'No'. And 'Sorry'.

She heard Bertolt let out a breath. Almost of relief. The waiter came then, handing Bertolt the gold and red check book. Bertolt slipped a hundred dollar bill, and a generous tip for the waiter into the book. Christ. Annie averted her eyes.

Colt thanked them, now appearing more alive when his eyes caught sight of that fat tip. "Please do come back again!" He called out to the pair as they headed out the glass door, Bertolt held it open for Annie, she thanked him, quietly. Outside the air was more humid, stuffy, with the lingering scent of a brewing thunderstorm.

It wasn't so crowded, but crowded enough that Annie found herself sticking to Bertolt's side as he walked her to the bus stop. The street lights illuminated the bus stop stark white, and Annie could see now, just how nervous Bertolt was, compared to the dim lighting of the restaurant.

He swallowed, rubbed at his nape. Bertolt stood a whole foot and three inches taller than Annie, a literal giant when standing next to her five foot form, yet Annie felt his presence was smaller than his appearance. He was, kind of like a mouse, and she meant that in the most gracious way. She liked quiet people, she did. But-

"I… uh," Berolt cleared his throat for the third time that day. "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you back home? You'd be far cooler in my car than this bus stop, I assure you."

"I'm sure." Annie nodded. "I'll be okay, don't worry to much for me, you look like you're giving yourself anxiety."

Bertolt fidgeted again, looking very much like a flustered teenager than a man of twenty-five.

"Well, alright then. Goodnight, Annie, stay safe." He did nothing but place a large tanned hand on her shoulder, giving her a slight squeeze, and a soft smile. Then his long back was turned to her, and he was heading for the valet who had already come around, parked with his Lexus.

Now Annie let out the breath she'd been holding. Well, it hadn't gone that bad. Not as bad as the last guy she'd been with, at least. She lasted two dates. Bertolt had been sweet to her, soft-spoken, gentle, and even when he touched her- and he hadn't much- he treated her like she was made of glass. That was why she felt it wasn't going to work out. She noticed how that last smile had been a sad one. Maybe he had caught on, maybe he would delete her number. Hopefully.

She watched from the bus stop bench as the Lexus drove away, knowing full well that Bertolt was looking at her retreating form in the rear-view mirror. Then he turned a corner, and he was out of her life. Perhaps, for good.

Annie let out a deep sigh. Waiting a few dreary moments, until the bad feeling in her gut dissipated. Then she fished out her phone. Ah, well, on to the next one. She tapped on yet another dating app, flicking right, and right and right. Not noticing the hooded stranger that came to her side, until he plopped down on the bench, right next to her. She startled, yanking her phone away as if he had intended to grab it- but really, she just didn't want anyone to see what her so-called hobbies included. Like reeling in men, then throwing them back into sea when she found something she didn't like.

Annie placed her phone down on her lap.

The stranger ignored her completely, as if she weren't even there. He took out his phone, an old beat-up android, one tap from his thumb, and suddenly Annie could hear faint screaming coming from the inside of his hood, then she noticed he'd been wearing earphones the whole time.

Annie felt just slightly uncomfortable. Where was this damn bus?

It was all ten minutes of faint screaming and the occasional muffled drum solo, and the tap of the strangers fingers against his lap that made Annie stand up from her seat to wait by the lamp post in front of the bench instead.

The restaurant Bertolt had taken her had gone dark, it was closing time. Annie spared a look at her phone. 12:00am. Huh. It hadn't been early after all.

Maybe she should have taken that ride offer. It was also weird that she, and the stranger were the only two waiting at the bus stop. Everyone else walked passed them, in their own little world. On their phones, or chatting animatedly with one another.

Thankfully, she didn't have to wait too long, her bus rounded a corner, then came barreling to a stop a little away from it's designated rest stop.

Annie fished out some coins from her purse, letting the stranger get on ahead of her. Once on the bus, she reveled in the feel of air-condition on her damp skin. Annie paid the toll, then clacked loudly then the aisle for a seat. Her feet were sore, and hurting. There were only four other people on the midnight bus back to her hometown. Four, that included her, and the hooded stranger.

Who she noticed then as she approached the rear, he had taken off his hood. Annie slowed a bit, taking in the features of this young man. He was olive-skinned, not as tan as Bertolt, but just so, his dark hair was done in a bun similar to hers but messily, as if he'd styled it in a haste. Loose dark tendrils grazed his cheekbones, and down his neck. He looking was out the window into the night, but Annie could very clearly see the summer green that was his eyes. Almost an all too familiar green that made her feel warm inside.

He was pretty. Almost feminine-like, but still masculine in a way that she'd do a double-take just to get another good look at him.

Well. Looks aren't everything. Annie knew that. But she couldn't stop staring. As the bus lurched across a resident city pothole, she lost her footing, her heel got caught on a ridge, and she went tumbling face first to the ground, but a hard-wired arm shot out to catch her by the waist before she could embarrass herself. She supposed she already had. Annie steeled herself upright.

"Uhm…"

"You good?" He asked, concerned. Bright green eyes on her face. She must have appeared flushed.

"I- yeah. Thanks." She looked at him than. Really looked at him. The puzzle was just falling into place. Those familiar green eyes. Her stomach did a somersault.

"No problem."

She found her seat, quickly, the one right behind him. Starting to inwardly berate herself for acting a fool. Because the man seated in front of her, was the boy she had lost her virginity too seven years ago. Eren Jaeger. The boy from her old high school who had been her firsts for nearly everything, and the lasts of it too.

She put a palm to her forehead. That's Eren blockhead Jaeger? The one other boys dubbed as suicidal bastard because he did outrageous stunts just for publicity? That's her dumb, old, loud-mouthed Eren? That man? How had he evolved into that? Why, and what, and who and w-

"Oh! Hey," Eren leaned over the side, picking up something shiny and purple. "You dropped your phone." He craned his neck to look her over his seat, holding out the phone. Annie swallowed.

"Thanks." When she tried to take it from him, he pulled it back. Annie thought he done it without meaning too, she reached out again to take it, but again, he pulled it back. Annie felt annoyance rise in her at the third attempt, the fourth attempt. She could easily see the mischievous glint in those green eyes.

Finally, she sighed, feeling as if she were back in High school, back in English class. "Eren, give me back my phone."

He smirked. "Annie." It was greeting from an old friend, and an irritating one. "I knew it was you."

He dropped her phone into her open palm. She leaned as far back into her seat as she could, studying him as he was studying her. Though he did it more appreciatively, his gaze lingering some on her low neckline. Annie went pink in the cheeks.

"Still a saucy bastard, huh?"

"As if you weren't checking me out when you got on the bus." He countered smoothly.

Annie's blush darkened.

She grimaced, same old Eren. "I didn't know if it was actually you, or not."

"You wouldn't, but I knew it was you the moment I saw that nose." He put a tongue against his cheek in thought, "and that ass."

"Eren!" she glanced around, but the only two other passengers were at the front of the bus.

"What? Anyone could see it, your ass is sexy, and you know it."

"Keep it down will you?"

"That's impossible, unless I get some help." He waggled his eyebrows.

"Jesus Christ."

"Love that guy."

"Eren, please."

Nostalgia came hitting her like a damned bus. It truly felt like for a moment she was back in high school with her hot-headed on again- off again boyfriend, all smirks, and playful remarks. If only Pieck and Mina were here with her as well, then the full wave of memories could overtake her. It was a nice, floaty, feeling.

Like almost nothing had changed in the last seven years.

Even when Eren bumped against her chin with his elbow trying to squeeze himself into the empty seat by her window. He sat down blowing air from his mouth. She glanced at him, He grinned wolfishly. All teeth. She rolled her eyes.

"That music." She nodded to the earphones dangling off his neck. "When did you start listening to screamo?"

Eren scoffed. "Screamo? Excuse you, this is metal, Babe. Heavy metal. Death metal, you wouldn't be able to understand it."

"Uh-huh. Right, death. Whatever."

Eren put an arm over the back of her seat. He offered an ear bud to her, this time the smile was in his eyes only. The nostalgia was suffocating her now, she plucked the ear bud from his fingers, put it in her ear. Eren chose the music, he always chose what song they would listen to back in their highschool days, only this time his edgy pop punk songs had given way to low growling, and sometimes incoherent screaming, maybe she heard a guitar in there or two, was that the sound of a dying cat?

Annie grimaced. "Eren, what the hell?"

"I know, it's great isn't it?"

"I can't understand a word!"

"Me neither! I love it."

She shook her head. But still listened. With Eren's arm nearly touching her shoulders, him being so close. Where the hell had he been all this whole time?

She turned her head to ask him, found him already staring at her, his expression calm, almost serene. Annie looked away. The bus drove on, making stop, after stop. People shuffled in, and out. Until they were the only two people left. And the long way back home was the last stop of the day. Eren never got off. Never said goodbye, just stood still with his arm slung over her, and his insane noise he called music blaring into their ear drums.

"Y'know maybe we both won't ever say it to each other," he said after a moment had passed, "So I'll go ahead and say it for us."

He leaned over than, her lilac perfume tickled his nose as he whispered into her ear. "I missed you so much."

Annie shivered. Eren fixed himself in his seat. She tried to regain some composure. "Well, I didn't miss your stupid jokes, that's for sure."

"You love my jokes."

Annie snorted, turning to him then, still a bit flushed from his proximity. "Oh sure, yes, Eren. You're so hot, and so funny. It turns me on."

Eren brightened for a second. Eyebrows shooting up into his bangs, and a smile ready to break into laughter. "Really?"

"No. I was kidding, your jokes still suck."

"But I'm still hot right?"

Annie shook her head, slapping a hand over her face, not because she was disagreeing, but because she couldn't stop the silly grin from coming. She never had to force herself to smile for Eren, it just came. And so did his teasing afterwards.

"Aw, you still blush like you did in high school, that's so fucking cute."

"Don't curse."

"I'm so fucking sorry, babe."

"Don't call me babe."

Now he was going to call her that for the rest of the trip. It was going to be a long ride home. Perhaps dating had been a game to her, because it had all started out as a game.

Annie leaned back into Eren's arm, he pulled her in, not too close, but just about. She closed her eyes, breathing in his all too familiar boyish scent. She was never searching for true romance anyway, but this, she could have this.