Chapter Five

Armin knew he had agreed that he and Annie should hang out again, but to be honest, he hadn't expected her to actually ask him, and certainly not only three days later. But he found himself sitting on the jungle gym at the elementary school playground at 730 on Friday night because he lacked an ability to say no to people. They had been here for a while now, and Annie had hardly said anything to him. So, he stared down at his feet that were swinging about a foot and a half off the ground. "This seemed so much bigger when we were in elementary school." He said absentmindedly.

"Did you go to school here?" Annie asked.

"Yeah. Got pushed off this jungle gym a lot."

"Why?"

"Because kids are mean, and nobody ever actually watches at recess." He shrugged his shoulders.

"That's awful."

Armin looked at her face and she seemed sincere. "Yeah, well eventually it stopped. Once I became friends with Eren. Well, not RIGHT after. Eren just turned into a fight." He smiled softly as he thought about it. "For a while, it was just both of us getting our asses kicked. Until Mikasa came into our lives. Eventually, the others got the message to leave us alone."

"I can't say I'm surprised Eren used to get his ass handed to him." Annie grinned.

"Yeah. It never surprises anyone. He's always been more of an act now, think later kind of person." Armin smiled back at her. "But he never failed to jump between me and a punch."

"Huh."

"What?" Armin asked. There was something about her expression. Like there was more she wanted to say.

"Nothing. It's just I didn't think he was that kind of friend."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't mean anything offensive by it. Just that you're a really ride or die sort of friend. I just didn't think Eren was like that. But I can see now."

"See what?"

"I could never understand why someone as sweet as you was friends with Jaeger, who's loud and brash and impulsive. But if he used to protect you, it makes sense."

"There's a lot more to Eren than a bad attitude, you know. It just takes a little while. But once you get to know him, he's one of the most loyal, trusting people you could ever meet. And he's incredibly kind and thoughtful and sweet. You just have to get past his rough exterior. I suspect he's rather similar to you, in that respect."

Annie looked at him with a mixture of surprise and an emotion Armin couldn't name. "You really think so?"

"I do. I think that beneath that gruff, moody exterior, you're really a good person."

Annie looked down at her lap and chewed on her lip. "If I tell you something, will you promise not to get mad?"

"That can't be good. But okay. I promise not to get mad."

"I think you're really oblivious."

Goddamn. He could see why she had wanted the promise. She just went straight for the jugular. "I'm going to need some elaboration on that point." He said quietly.

"You spend your days pining after people who won't even give you a second glance, and you miss what's right in front of you."

"And what's right in front of me?"

"This." Annie leaned over, cupped his face in her hand, and kissed him.

Armin was taken by such surprise that he just froze. Was this really happening to him? Finally, he shook himself out of his stupor and leaned back, breaking the kiss. "Oh, Annie no." he sighed softly.

"Armin-"

"It's nothing against you. You're lovely. But I just…can't." He climbed to his feet.

"Eren's never going to love you." Annie said, looking up at him.

"Oh my god. Does everyone think I'm in love with Eren?"

"Yes." Armin slapped a hand to his face. Annie continued unperterbed. "I can understand the draw. He has that charm about him, like he's completely comfortable in his skin. That must be nice. Plus, he has that savior complex." Annie climbed to her feet as well.

"Annie-"

"But he's even more oblivious than you in these matters. He just doesn't think about things like this. He doesn't seem interested. Which makes what you're doing all the more sad."

Armin rolled his head back and closed his eyes. "This is not happening." His hand slid to his side.

"Listen-"

He opened his eyes and looked at her. "You're not telling me anything I don't already know, Annie. I've known all of this for longer than I've known you."

"I just want you to know that there are people who would love you. Who DO love you."

"Annie, this can't work."

"Why not?"

Armin didn't want to admit the real reason, but he also didn't want to hurt her feelings. She had really put herself out there, and he had to admire her bravery. "Because-"

"I know you're not gay, because I've seen how you look at Historia, which is another dead end. She is VERY gay."

"What the hell? Have you been stalking me?"

"I pay attention."

Armin felt his face flush hot. "Am I that obvious?"

"If you pay attention, you are."

"Oh my god, I want to evaporate right now." He facepalmed again.

"No." Annie stepped closer to him and gently lifted his hand from his face. "I think it's really sweet that you wear your heart on your sleeve, and leave your love for everyone to see. I think it's brave."

"Yeah, but I don't want people to see it. It's embarrassing."

"You're pretty cute when you're embarrassed. You get all flustered and your face turns red." She cupped his cheek. She started leaning in like she was going to kiss him again. Armin knew he had to take drastic action.

"Annie, I'm seeing someone." He blurted out.

"What?" She froze. Who?"

"That's…not important." He said, looking down.

"It's a little important, Armin."

"Well, it's not a big thing. We're not telling people."

"Are you trying to tell me that you have a secret relationship?" Annie's hand slid off his face and gripped his sweatshirt.

"Okay, hearing it, I realize that it sounds like a pretty obvious lie."

"It sounds insane." Annie stared at his face incredulously. He'd never really noticed before, but Annie was shorter than him. "And yet I don't think you're lying, which is probably even more insane."

"But you understand why I can't see you?"

Before Annie could reply, another voice called out, "What are you doing?" The voice was soft, and incredibly familiar to Armin.

He felt Annie stiffen, and suddenly, she pushed him away from her. Before he even had time to react, he was falling, and then colliding with the ground with enough force to knock all the air out of his lungs. "Ooomph!"

"We're not doing anything! I was just leaving! Bye!" From his position on the ground, he could see Annie spin around and leap off the other side of the jungle gym out of his view. He could hear her footsteps as she sprinted off. He could also hear footsteps approaching him from the other direction and suddenly, there was Mikasa standing over him, one eyebrow raised.

"This hurts EXACTLY as much as it did six years ago." He groaned.

"Uh huh. Come on." She held out a hand and he took it, letting her pull him to his feet. "Having fun?"

"Not particularly." He said, rubbing the back of his head and feeling mulch in his hair.

"Well, it sure looked like you guys were." Mikasa wouldn't look at him now.

"Mikasa, are you mad at me?"

"No. Why would I be mad? I never said you couldn't kiss other people."

"But I don't WANT to kiss other people."

"You should tell her that." She nodded in the direction Annie had run off.

"I did. In a multitude of ways." He reached out and took her hand. "Mikasa-"

"Did you mean that? That you don't want to kiss other people?" She turned and looked into his eyes.

"I did. I do."

"Well, that's good then. Because I DON'T want you kissing other people." She stepped closer and Armin could feel her warm breath on his face. "And if I see you kissing other people, I might have to kill them."

"That…is actually pretty attractive, I'm not gonna lie."

Mikasa reached up the hand that wasn't being held by Armin and cupped his cheek. "Good." She said before closing the remaining distance and putting her lips on his. Armin's free hand snaked around her waist, pulling her tight against him.

After a moment, he remembered himself and pulled away slightly, letting go of her waist. They were in a public park, after all. They could be seen. "So, if you don't want me kissing other people, does this mean I can call you my girlfriend?"

"Armin-"

He held up his hand. "Not around other people, obviously. But…when it's just us?"

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Under those conditions only, I suppose yes."

"Thank you." He smiled, planting a kiss on her nose.

"You have mulch in your hair." She said, lifting her hand and brushing it out. "Now, come on. Let's get out of here before she comes back and I have to kick her ass for kissing my man and then pushing him off the jungle gym." She started pulling him towards the gate.

"How did you find me anyway?"

"Your grandfather. Sometimes, his insistence on knowing everything can actually be helpful."

"Right." Armin was quiet as they went through the gate and started walking down the street. "I'm surprised you don't have Eren with you, given that it's Friday night."

"Oh, I did. I left him with your grandfather."

Armin let out a sigh. "He is not going to thank us for that." He shook his head.

"No, he's not. But could you imagine if Eren had seen you kissing Annie? He probably would have stroked out."

"First of all, she was kissing me. I was not kissing her. Get that through your head. Jot it down if you have to. And second, could we not tell Eren about the kissing thing? I don't want to deal with that."

"What are you going to tell him you were doing?"

"I'll figure it out." As they neared the house, Armin pulled his hand out of her's. The house had barely come into view when the front door swung open and Eren bounded out onto the porch.

"There you guys are! What took so long?"

"Sorry." Armin said as he and Mikasa walked up the porch steps.

"What were you even doing? Gramps said you left with Annie."

"Yeah, she lost something, wondered if I could help her find it."

Eren made a face. "Why you?"

"I don't know, man. I was just trying to be nice."

"Well, you're too nice for your own good." Eren grumbled, stepping back into the house. Mikasa and Armin followed behind, with Armin locking the front door behind them.

"Armin, if you're going to have your friends over, it would be helpful and polite for you to actually be here." Grandfather was standing at the other end of the hallway, his hands on his hips.

Armin gave him a smile. "Sorry, Grandfather. I lost track of time."

"Why do I get the feeling that Eren and Mikasa invited themselves over this evening?"

Armin grinned. "I have no idea why you'd be getting that feeling." Armin moved into the living room where his friends had already claimed their spots on either end of the couch, leaving him the spot in the middle. "My house so I get to pick the movie." He said, plopping down.

"What? No way! Guest gets to pick!" Eren replied.

"Really? Because that's not what you say when I'm a guest at your house."

"Oh come on! I really want to see the new Avengers movie."

"I don't know why. DC is better." Armin smirked.

Eren's jaw dropped open. "Don't tell me that you defected, Arlert! I will have to go home right now."

"There's the door." Grandfather said as he walked in, three glasses of orange soda balanced in his hands. "And seeing as it's MY house, I will be picking the movie." Eren groaned as Grandfather set the glasses down on the coffee table and left the room. He returned a moment later with a huge bowl of potato chips and a fourth glass of soda. He set the bowl down on the table and grabbed the remote before settling into the armchair. "I'm thinking The Great Escape. It's a war movie, Eren, you'll like it."

"Is it in color?" Eren asked, sounding rather disappointed that he wasn't getting his super hero movie.

"Yes, it is in color." Grandfather shook his head. "Now, does your mother know that you'll be spending the night here, or should I be expecting a phone call?"

Eren glanced at Mikasa. "I…wouldn't leave the phone too far."

"Typical." Grandfather shook his head again as he started the movie.

After a few minutes, Eren leaned over and whispered, "So, did she ever find it."

"What?"

"Annie. Did she ever find whatever it was that she was looking for?"

"Oh. Uh no." Armin glanced over at Mikasa, who was engrossed in the film. "But I did."