StarrAnise requested a college AU in which Reader struggles with school and Armin comforts them! I decided to make Reader gender neutral, so they/their pronouns.

If you want to read the reader version, you can find it here: /works/20990039/chapters/61934029 !

For these imagines, I use using the same name, Robin Rein, so that I don't have to think up a new one for every chapter. Different people every chapter, same name for convenience. I hope that makes sense. For this chapter, I'll use a gender neutral name so it fits: Robin.

Hope you enjoy!

Robin cursed themselves for a stupid decision. The forecast talked about a light rain shower, so they thought it wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have their umbrella.

The forecast lied.

It was more than a light shower and Robin was drenched by the time they made it to class. After classes, the sun was out again, but by then the damage was done and despite getting out of their cold, wet clothes as fast as they could when they entered the dorm and taking a warm shower, they still got sick a day later. Their boyfriend, Armin Arlert, who was also their dorm roommate, stayed with them and helped them get better, as well as helped them with school work they might have missed. As stubborn and proud as they were, they usually don't like to accept help, but in this case, they appreciated it only because they were stuck in bed. However, as time went on, they slowly but surely started to fall behind and by the time they were able to attend classes again, they were slightly lost on what was going on. Robin, who was usually done with their work and in bed by ten, twelve the latest, had to start staying up past twelve just to try to get up to speed, but for some reason, they always managed to go back to being behind. So, they would stay up past twelve again to get back on track and they would lose focus in class because they were so tired...

The vicious cycle would repeat itself.

What exactly was Robin doing wrong? They were usually so good with keeping their study life in check. Why did this have to happen?

Armin immediately noticed how off they were. He's smart, very smart and far from blind. Robin tried to appear fine in front of him, but he could see right through them. Being together for the better part of three years had him knowing them better than the back of his hand. Plus, they were starting to develop bags under their eyes. Robin reassured him that they were OK, that they just needed some uninterrupted sleep, which was the truth. Armin invited them for some Netflix and they ended up taking a nap on him, exactly as he planned.

However, they had not asked for any more help from Armin so far.

He knew how stubborn they can be, he knew that asking for help not only made Robin feel like they were losing, but it also took a hit on their confidence a bit.

Robin was, again, completing their school work past midnight, when Armin found them bent over at your desk. He could tell they were tired, but they were so determined to finish their work. They were strong, he knew they were. Armin will help them as soon as they felt comfortable accepting it. The next day after class, they decided to take a stroll in the local park not so far from their dorm.

Robin had missed the entire lecture.

Throughout the entirety, Robin was so out of it from lack of sleep. They tried to listen and take notes, but they knew that if they looked at their notes right now, there would be nothing but chicken scratch and gibberish. Robin was tired, so tired. So mentally spent, they were beside themselves. They honestly didn't even know how they got themselves to the park. A worried Armin didn't find them in their shared dorm, and thought that perhaps he'll find his partner at the park they liked to visit. He indeed found them, sitting on a bench and bent over forward with their face in their hands. He didn't need to speak to them to know what they were doing or what was wrong. Robin was out of juice, he knew they were and now they were crashing. Carefully, so as to not startle them too badly, Armin sat down next to them and put an arm around their shoulders. Robin still startled slightly, looking at him in confusion as he pulled them closer. When they saw it was their boyfriend, they immediately started to tear up. Noticing, the blonde decided to save them from embarrassment, gently shushing them, standing up and taking them with him, starting for their dorm all the while holding his partner. No sooner than setting one foot into they dorm did Robin start crying out of frustration, Armin barely having time to shut the door behind them. He pulled them to the couch, then to himself, letting them cry on his shoulder until they calmed down and were ready to speak.

"Want to tell me about it?" Armin asked gently when they calmed down.

"I couldn't concentrate in class at all today..." Robin explained. "And my notes probably make no sense..." Armin rubbed their back as they spoke. "Ever since I got sick, I've been behind classes and no matter what I do, I can't catch up! I must be stupid, babe, I mean, how else—"

"Hey, hey, hey." Armin gently stopped their running train of thought. There was no way he was going to let his lovely partner talk about themselves this way. "You are not stupid. You're just behind. I'll help you, OK? You'll catch up in no time."

He cupped Robin's face with both of his hands gently and stared at them with a soft expression until they reluctantly agreed with him, slowly nodding their head. Robin's confidence was definitely taking a hit. He'll get them be back to being their happy and confident self again in no time, they just need a little help at the moment. Thankfully, it's the weekend, Friday, and both Robin and him have zero classes until Monday. Armin had finished most of his work for the week, except for what was due on Monday. He's got to get them to that point and he knew that with his notes and their swift workmanship, they'll get it done. Even if it takes them the whole weekend.

But first,

"How about a game night? Eren's been dying for a Smash rematch."

"Yeah," Robin sniffed, "I guess..."

"We can invite Marco and Jean, too."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Armin shared a look at Robin. Both Jean and Eren are good friends to them, but those two constantly argued with each other like an old married couple. Robin once witnessed them go at it over jellyfish.

Jellyfish!

How does one even go about talking about jellyfish, of all things? Robin honestly has no idea how they came about talking about the odd topic, especially since the topic before jellyfish was nowhere near anything that had to do about ocean creatures, let alone jellyfish specifically.

"Jean and Eren? In the same room?"

His sentiment exactly. Robin's expression, however, made him laugh, which in turn made them laugh with him.

"You're right. Bad idea."

"Invite them both. Otherwise, I'd just be kicking Eren's ass the whole night."

There's the confident Robin he knows and loves.

"What the fuck, Jean! You threw me off the stage!" Eren shouted as his character blew up under the current stage with a cry, then revived, floating over the stage.

"You were in my way!"

"Try not running around like a chicken without its head." Robin teased Eren with a smirk, just as they made Jean's character blast off stage.

Jean cussed under his breath and went into action as soon as his character floated above the stage.

Armin, Mikasa and Marco sat back and contently watched the game play, also enjoying the bickering and eating the snacks Armin had provided. Robin needed this, their friends could tell the moment they stepped into their dorm room. Instead of instantly jumping into Jean and Eren's face about being ready to be beaten by them yet again, Robin seemed dejected and quiet. Eren and Jean immediately went over to them and did what Robin usually does, challenging them to pick up a controller and get ready. One of the very few times Jean and Eren refrained from bickering with each other to make sure Robin was all right. They didn't even wait for their answer, tossing one of the Switch controllers Robin's way and starting up the game. However, as soon as they started to feel better, Eren and Jean were immediately back to their normal behaviors, bickering with each other and at Robin themselves. Still, it made Robin smile. It means they cared.

It didn't take long for Robin to finish off the remainder of their lives, forcing their characters to clap for theirs. They both sighed at Robin and sent them a mock glare as they faked a yawn.

"Next one!" Eren challenged. "I'll show you who'll to be yawning!"

Robin laughed as Jean rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"Yeah, you. You'll get tired of losing all the time."

"You, shut up! It's not like you're doing any better!"

"I'm doing great, compared to you. At least I'm not the one who always loses all his lives the minute the match starts!"

"Keep talking, I'm takin' you down first!" Eren then turned to you. "And you're next!"

Robin didn't need to say a word. They just let the two bickerers take care of all the threats as Robin smirked. This was their game, Eren nor Jean own it themselves, of course Robin was better at it than they were. Eren made good on his threats and actually made Jean lose all his lives first. It came close, but Robin took a risk-it-all approach as they and Eren were on their last lives. Robin ran both themselves and Eren off the screen, making sure his character was beneath theirs so he would lose first, thus giving Robin the win.

"Are you serious?!" he fumed.

Robin simply started cackling, and Eren got up with a huff to grab some more snacks and drinks. Robin took a moment to calm down before they looked to all their friends in the room.

"Thanks for coming guys." they said with genuine appreciation in your tone.

"You owed us a rematch." Jean said, getting up as well.

"Pfft!" Robin scoffed with a smile on their face. What is he, a tsundere? A simple "You're welcome" would have sufficed!

"We're always happy to visit." Marco replied to them.

"Hard time with school?" Mikasa asked softly.

"Yeah..." Robin nodded. "I feel better now, though."

"Just keep at it." they heard Eren's voice next to them as he sat back down on the couch with his bowl of chips and soda can. "You're smart. Whatever it is, you'll kick it's ass eventually."

"Aw, Yeager!" Robin cooed at him. "Who knew you could be such a motivational speaker?"

"We can leave." Eren suddenly blurted. "They're fine."

"What?! No, no! I'm sorry!" they laughed, grabbing at Eren so he couldn't get up and leave.

"Agh!" he grunted as they pulled him down unexpectedly, then complained. "Come on!"

After chatting for a bit and having some snacks, Robin had a couple more matches with Marco joining the fray, before Mikasa noted that it was late and they should probably start heading for their own dorms soon. Robin finished it up with a thank you as they saw them out the door, Marco and an agreeing Mikasa saying that they'll come and visit again before the weekend ends. Afterwards, Armin suggested that he and his partner watch some Netflix, but Robin said they would rather try and get some sleep with him by their side. The two lovers quickly got ready for bed, then Robin snuggled happily against their boyfriend.

"Thanks, babe." their voice was slightly muffled with the way they were pressing their face against him.

"I'm beside you every step of the way." Armin replied. "You scared me when I couldn't find you after class."

"Sorry. I'm lucky to have someone who'll look for me and pick me up when I've fallen." they pressed a kiss to Armin's temple. "So lucky."

Their smile widened, watching how his cheeks lit up a pretty shade of pink as he chuckled with a bit of embarrassment. Armin's so cute sometimes.

"Let's work hard tomorrow." Armin said.

"I'll catch up before the end of this weekend, just you watch!"