Chapter Four

"So, how was the basketball game?"

Armin had been resting his head on his desk when the familiar voice disturbed him. The blond lifted his head and looked into the eyes of Connie. "It was fine."

"Just fine? What happened? I mean, I listened to the game on the radio, so I know what happened, but you were there live."

Armin rubbed a hand over his face. "To be honest, I didn't really watch the game."

"You didn't- then what was the point of you going? Who goes to a game and doesn't pay attention?"

"I didn't know you liked basketball, Connie." Jean said, stepping up beside him.

"I don't really, but that's not the point."

"I just don't see why you're so upset at Armin. I mean, if you don't really care about the sport, what's the big deal?"

Before Connie could answer, a voice from behind Armin spoke up. "He's just mad that his boyfriend didn't invite him along."

Armin turned around and looked at Ymir, who was leaning back with her feet kicked up on the desk. Historia was also sitting on the desk. "I think Ymir's got it." Armin said.

"He's not my boyfriend! Stop calling him my boyfriend!"

"Look, obviously, it was date night for the husbands, and Reiner can't bring his side bitch along."

Armin glanced at Connie and noticed his face was turning a nasty shade of red, and he had his fists clenched. Historia spoke up before Connie could snap. "Or, the more obvious explanation is that Reiner invited Annie along, and you don't really get along with Annie."

"More like Annie invited herself." Armin muttered.

"I bet she did." Ymir smirked.

Armin decided he didn't want to be in this conversation with Connie anymore. "Look, Connie." He said, rising to his feet. "Next time something like this happens, you can go in my place."

"You really mean it?"

Armin put a hand on Connie's shoulder and looked him dead in the eyes. "I 100% mean it."

"Oh, thanks man! You're the best!"

Armin just nodded his head, gathered up his books into his backpack, and headed to the back of the room. "Hey Historia." He smiled at the blonde. "Ymir." He nodded to the brunette.

"Hi, Armin." Historia smiled back.

Armin had found Historia cute since he met her, though a lot of people, including Ymir, said the two of them looked like brother and sister. If that was the case, he wondered what that meant about his opinion of himself….probably that he'd be a cute girl. "How's your day going so far?"

"It's going fine. How's your's?"

"It's okay."

"The two of you are so ridiculous." Ymir butted in, taking her feet off the desk and sitting up straight. "When are the two of you going to stop acting so prim and proper?"

"When I'm dead, I suppose, since that's my personality." Historia grinned, looking at Ymir.

Ymir just rolled her eyes, though she wrapped her arms around Historia's waist. "So, Annie invited herself along last night." She shifted her focus to Armin. "Tell me, was it before or after you were going?"

"Um before. She was already set to go when Reiner asked me…he just didn't tell me." He replied.

"Huh. Interesting."

"Why? What do you know?" Armin asked, tilting his head to the side.

"I don't know anything. I have my suspicions though."

"What are your suspicions?"

"I'm not telling you that. I don't need you making rash decisions and it coming back to bite me if I'm wrong."

"Oh, you're awful, Ymir." Historia said in an exasperated tone.

"That may be true, but I'm still not telling him." Ymir said, crossing her arms.

"Great, now I know there's a conspiracy going on. Still no closer to figuring out what it is." Armin huffed. "Well, thanks for your help, Ymir."

"Chin up, Armin." Historia chirped, patting him on the shoulder. "It's not that bad. It can't be." She gave him a smile that he had to return. She just had one of those infectious smiles.

"Yeah, thanks." He said as the bell rang, signaling the end of 4th period.

"I'll tell you, having a teacher who literally doesn't care about this class is great." Ymir said, rising to her feet.

"It's not going to last. It's only until after his test." Historia said, jumping off the desk.

"It doesn't hurt that we're two weeks ahead of schedule." Armin added.

"Yeah, everyone except Connie." Jean chimed into their conversation as they reached the door.

"What? You're making fun of me again, aren't you?" Connie demanded as they stepped into the hall.

"You never need to ask that question. We're always making fun of you." Ymir grinned.

"Making fun of who?" Eren asked, walking up.

"Connie." Armin answered. "Also, how did you get out of gym so fast? Did you skip?"

"That's true, we're always making fun of Connie. And no, I didn't skip. He let us out early. You can ask Mikasa."

"Believe me, I will."

"So, are you coming over right after school?"

"I'll have to. It's the only way. If I try and go home first, Grandfather will probably lock me in a closet or something. He's not happy about last night."

"Yeah, that was great. You'll have to tell me all the details this afternoon." Eren said before setting off.

"Yeah, see you." Armin slowly walked off towards his oceanography class.

Five hours later, Armin was sitting out on the Jaegers' back patio, having just finished his account of what had happened the night before for the third time. "I still can't believe you just bolted on your grandfather like that." Eren said, staring at him with a mixture of disbelief and admiration.

"I'm more concerned with why he was brought along in the first place." Mikasa said. "What do you think the plan was?"

"I have no idea. But it was weird because when I was talking with Ymir during economics, she seemed really interested in who had agreed to go first, me or Annie."

"Well, sounds like Ymir." Eren shrugged.

"I wonder what she knows." Mikasa said, though it seemed more like she was talking to herself than the boys.

"You and me both. She wouldn't tell me anything. Just that she has suspicions."

"That definitely sounds like Ymir then." Eren said, rising to his feet. "Now come on. Do we have to sit here analyzing Armin's life and why he keeps getting mistaken for a girl well into his teenage years, or are we going to play?" He reached down and scooped up his soccer ball.

"Not right now, Eren." Mikasa said.

"Uggghhh." Eren groaned, plopping back down in his chair.

"Stop acting like a child." Mikasa scolded.

"Yeah, can't you see Mommy and Daddy are talking?" All three turned to see Eren's neighbor, Hannes, on the other side of the chain like fence that separated the yards.

"Why don't you mind your own business, you old drunk?" Eren snapped back.

That did nothing but make Hannes grin. "Is that anyway to speak to me? Weren't you taught to respect their elders?"

"Not when they're degenerate drunks who can't hold a job."

"Eren, your mother's going to hear you." Armin said, a note of warning in his voice.

"Now, now. Listen to the voice of reason before you get yourself in trouble, little Eren."

Armin turned to look at the middle aged man. "It would help if you didn't goad him."

"Yes, but what would I do with my days if I didn't?"

"Be a productive member of society." Eren replied.

That made Hannes laugh. "Ooh, that's a good one. You get points for that one."

"Just ignore him, Eren." Mikasa said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Listen to your girlfriend now."

Armin immediately turned to look at Eren and managed to duck just in time. "She's not my girlfriend, you creep!" He yelled as he lobbed his ball at Hannes' face. That was the one thing guaranteed to set Eren off, no matter what mood he was in before.

Of course, all this happened right as Mrs. Jaeger was stepping outside. "Eren Jaeger, how many times do we have to have the same conversation about how you treat Mr. Hannes.?" She scolded, plunking the tray of glasses down on the table.

"Oh, no harm done, Mrs. J." Hannes laughed as he jogged to go retrieve the ball that had missed him by a mile.

"But Mom-"

"No buts. I do not want to have this conversation with you again. I would have thought Mikasa and Armin would have started to have a good influence on you by now." As she spoke, she handed a glass of juice to each kid. Apple for Armin, grape for Eren and cranberry for Mikasa.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jaeger." Armin said, taking it with a smile.

"You're welcome, Armin. See, Eren? Why can't you have manners like these?"

"Don't let him fool you. It's only because he's not at home. You should hear what he did to his grandfather last night."

"Don't you try and slander my boy now." Mrs. Jaeger leaned over and planted a kiss on the top of Armin's head.

"Uh oh, Eren. Looks like Armin's replaced you as Mommy's favorite." Hannes said as he tossed the ball over the fence.

"Why you- I'm gonna come over that fence!" Eren yelled as Hannes went back into his house.

"Eren, that is enough." Mrs. Jaeger's voice was stern.

"You heard him!"

"Just ignore him."

"That's what I said." Mikasa chimed in.

"He called her my girlfriend!" Eren sounded offended.

"It's not that big a deal. I'm sure people think she's Armin's girlfriend just as much." Armin had been taking a sip just as she said that, and proceeded to inhale it, sending him into a coughing fit. Mikasa smacked him on the back several times. He could feel his face growing hot. "Armin, are you okay?" Mrs. Jaeger looked concerned.

"Fine." He choked out, coughing several times after. He had coughed hard enough to have tears in his eyes.

"Mom, stop being ridiculous. No one would make that mistake."

"Thanks for that." Armin wheezed.

"Stop talking." Mikasa chided, rubbing his back. "Catch your breath."

"Eren, stop that. Armin is a perfectly attractive young man who I'm sure has the girls tripping over themselves to be his girlfriend."

"Not really looking." Armin coughed.

"Armin." Mikasa scolded.

"Don't be gross, Mom. Besides, he's still getting mistaken as a girl himself."

"Oh, so now I'm gross? Do I have to call your father?"

Eren hung his head. "Noooooo." He groaned. They all knew that if Mr. Jaeger got called, Eren would be subjected to a two hour lecture about respecting others and then have to go shake Hannes' hand and hug it out with Mrs. Jaeger.

"That's what I thought. Now, drink your juice."

"Yes, Mom." He sighed, picking up his glass.

"Good boy. Now, Armin, are you staying for dinner?"

"Uh, no. I think Grandfather's expecting me tonight."

"Alright, well make sure you say goodbye before you leave." She ruffled his hair. "Eren, Mikasa, I expect you to be washed up and have the table set by 6."

"Yes, Mom."

"Yes, Mrs. Jaeger." With that, she turned on her heel and walked back into the house. Armin stared at Eren for a few moments. "Is now an appropriate time to say I told you so?"

"Shut up." Eren said, rising to his feet and stalking off across the yard to go collect his ball.

Armin caught Mikasa's eye and they smiled at each other. "When are you heading home?" Mikasa asked.

Armin shrugged. "Half an hour to an hour."

"Do you want me to walk with you?"

"I think you're needed here." He said, nodding towards Eren, who right at that moment tripped over his ball and landed on his face. "Oooo." Armin winced sympathetically.

Mikasa let out a sigh. "Eren? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He grunted back. To Armin, it sounded like his pride was more hurt than his body.

"Alright then. See, he's fine." Mikasa said, returning her attention to Armin. "He doesn't need me."

"He's always going to need you." Armin said, looking down at his lap.

"He needs you too." Mikasa said, reaching over and taking his hand.

Armin shook his head. "It's not the same." He said, pulling his hand back out of her grip. "Anyway, I should go kick the ball around with him awhile before I leave, or he'll be really mad." He gave Mikasa a smile as he stood up. "Alright, Eren! Let's see if you can beat me this time." He began walking over.

Eren gave him a grin as he practically jumped to his feet. He certainly wasn't suffering any ill effects from his fall. "I beat you every time. You're truly terrible at sports. I've never met someone with as little athletic ability as you."

"Maybe I should join his team then." Mikasa called from behind them, where she remained seated on the patio. "Make it a fair fight."

Eren made a face. "Fair for who? The only way playing you would be fair would be for me to have Reiner, Bertolt, Annie, Jean, and Sasha on my team, all playing against you two."

"Yeah, and that would only get him a draw." Armin grinned. "He'd still need Ymir, Historia, and Connie on his side if he wanted any hope of actually winning."

Eren looked at him. "I'd tell you to shut up, but in this case, you make a fair point. So, overall," He turned to look at Mikasa again. "You are not playing."