Chapter Twelve

After a few hours, Reiner and Bertolt headed out. Soon after, Marco also headed home, taking Historia with him since they lived in the same direction. Armin was surprised that Ymir stayed after Historia had left. He herded his remaining friends up into his bedroom and closed the door. It was a tight fit, but they fit in a circle on the floor.

"So, what are we doing?" Jean asked.

Ymir held up an empty soda bottle she had swiped from downstairs. "I say we play some spin the bottle." She grinned, wagging her eyebrows.

"That's a kissing game. We should play truth or dare." Eren countered.

"Why not combine them?" Sasha asked.

"Yeah, it mixes up what happens. Whoever spins the bottle gets to pose the question or dare." Connie added.

"Oh, know all about it, do you?" Ymir looked at Connie. "Play it with all your non-existent friends?"

"Shut up" Connie fired back.

"Give me the bottle. I'll spin first." Armin said, holding out his hand.

"Oooh, look at the little man, eager to play." Ymir smirked, handing him the bottle.

Armin looked around the circle for a moment as he held the bottle. Mikasa sat to his right. Next to her was Ymir, then Annie, Sasha, Connie, Jean, and finally Eren to Armin's left. Taking a deep breath, he set the bottle down in the middle of the circle and spun it. As it spun, they all watched it intently. Finally, it came to a stop, pointing at Sasha. Armin looked up at her, as her face flushed red. "Truth or-"

"Truth! Truth." She blurted out.

"Wow, someone thinks we're gonna make her do awful things if she picks dare." Ymir laughed.

"But we ARE." Jean said.

"True."

Armin was wracking his brain for a question. "Okay."

"Please be kind, Armin." Sasha said.

"Now you should definitely be cruel." Connie said.

"Do you have a crush on Connie?" Armin asked.

That shut Connie up as his head snapped to look at Sasha. Her face was almost as red as her hair. "I said be kind."

"There's no kindness or mercy in this game. Armin knows that." Eren said.

"Just answer the question." Mikasa said.

Sasha dropped her head. "Yes." She said softly.

"Wait, yes what?" Connie asked.

"The answer to Armin's question, you idiot." Jean slapped Connie on the back of the head.

"Get your revenge, Sasha. Spin the bottle." Annie encouraged.

Sasha did just that. They all watched it spin around and around, finally coming to a stop at Mikasa. "Truth or dare?" Sasha asked.

Mikasa stared into Sasha's eyes. "Dare."

Everyone's eyes went to Sasha, anxious to see what she made Mikasa do. "Okay. I dare you to go to Armin's grandfather's room and bring back a pair of his underwear." Sasha had an evil grin on her face.

"Wait, Sasha-" Armin started.

"Fine." Mikasa was on her feet before Armin could say anything else. She returned in a moment. "Here." She said, tossing something at Sasha.

Sasha let out a shriek as a pair of Grandfather's boxers landed on her. She recoiled, throwing them off of her as she fell backwards. That made everyone laugh, except Armin, who lunged forward, seized the underwear, and tossed them under his bed. "Alright, from here on out, Grandfather's possessions are off limits."

"Don't ask for things you don't actually want, Sasha." Mikasa said, returning to her seat and spinning the bottle. Armin sort of wished it would land on him. Mikasa was probably the only one who would go easy on him. Instead, it landed on Connie. "Truth or dare?" she asked.

"I'm not sure I want to do either." Connie said.

"Don't be a bitch." Eren said. "Pick one."

Connie groaned. "Fine. Truth."

"Is it true you called the biology teacher mom?"

All eyes turned to Connie. He hadn't been in biology with any of them the year before, but a rumor had come out that Connie had called the male teacher Mom. Connie had never confirmed or denied it. His face turned red. "Yes, I did. It just sort of came out." The room erupted with laughter. "Alright, laugh it up. One of you's gonna pay." He seized the bottle and spun it. The thing came to a stop at Annie. "Truth or dare, Annie?"

"Dare." Annie said without hesitation.

A wicked grin spread across Connie's face. "I dare you to pull up your shirt and show up your bra."

Annie shrugged her shoulders. "Fine."

Armin felt his face flush red and he stared down at the floor as she grabbed the bottom of her shirt. "Look at Armin, the little gentleman." Sasha cooed. "He won't look."

"You're too precious." Jean said, leaning over and ruffling Armin's hair.

"I can't tell if he's being respectful or if he's afraid of tits." Ymir chimed in. "They're mostly covered in a bra, Arlert."

"Leave him alone." Annie said. "He doesn't have to look if he doesn't want to. I rather appreciate that he was the only one not gawking at my chest." Armin looked up then, and saw Connie and Jean had the decency to look chagrinned. However, Eren just looked rather delighted. "My turn." Annie said, grabbing the bottle and giving it a spin. It landed on Jean.

"Oh crap." He said.

"Truth or dare?"

"Dare." Jean said.

"I dare you to lick Connie's face."

"What?" Connie exclaimed.

"Done." Jean grabbed Connie's face and, in an exaggerated motion, dragged his tongue along the other boy's cheek.

Connie managed to break free of Jean's grasp and pushed him away. "Get off me, you animal!"

Everyone laughed as Jean spun the bottle. Armin felt his face flush as it landed on him. "So what'll it be, Armin? Truth or dare?"

Armin could understand Connie's earlier sentiment. He didn't want to pick. Either option was sure to be a minefield. But he had agreed to play this game, so he let out a groan before saying, "Dare."

"That was probably dangerous." Ymir laughed.

"Bold move, Armin. I respect that. But there will be no mercy. I dare you to touch Mikasa's boob."

"What?" Armin and Eren snapped at the same time. Armin could already feel his face turning bright red.

"You heard me." Jean replied.

"That's just cruel. I'm proud of you, Kirschstein." Ymir grinned.

"That's crossing a line." Eren argued.

"Really? Like five minutes ago, we were all staring at Annie's boobs! They were lovely, by the way." He added, looking at Annie.
"Thanks." She said flatly.

"Yeah, but we weren't touching them without her permission." Eren continued to argue.

"It's fine." Mikasa said softly.

"What? Mikasa-"

"I said it's fine. If Armin wants to touch them…that's his decision."

Armin thought he might faint. Of course, as her boyfriend, Armin had wanted to feel her boobs, but not like this. Not in front of all of their friends, who didn't know they were together. "Look how red his face is." Connie laughed.

"What's it going to be, Arlert? Are you going to do it, or are you going to bitch out?" Jean asked.

"Armin, you don't-" Eren began. But Armin knew he would never hear the end of it if he didn't do it, so he took a deep breath, and reached out a hand, lightly patting Mikasa's boob.

"Oh shit, he actually did it." Ymir gasped.

"If he turns any redder, he might die." Sasha giggled.

Armin felt incredibly uncomfortable and wanted to melt into the floor. Everyone was staring at him. "Look at what you did, you stupid horse face! Now you broke him!" Eren exclaimed.

"What-" Jean started. He stopped as Armin reached out a hand and seized the bottle. "Why is that terrifying look in your eye, Armin?"

Armin had been seized by a sudden determination to make Jean pay for this. The bottle spun around and landed on Connie. "Truth or dare, Connie?"

Connie blanched. "Oh, God. Well, I certainly don't want to answer any of your questions. I choose dare."

That was what Armin had hoped Connie would say. A half crazed grin crossed his face. "I dare you to slap Jean's ass."

"WHAT?" Jean's head whipped around so fast. Eren erupted in hysterical laughter, and fell over.

"Karma's a bitch." Annie said.

"No, wait, Armin-" Swift as lightening, Connie shoved Jean over, and before Jean could react, cracked his hand across Jean's butt. "OW! What the fuck, dude?" Jean yelped, grabbing his ass.

The room dissolved into laughter. Eren was laughing so hard he had tears streaming down his face. "Oh, he got you so good!" The look of pure delight on Eren's face had Armin grinning. "Oh, that was beautiful." Eren sat up and slung an arm around Armin's shoulders, hugging him close. "That image is gonna stay with me awhile, so thank you for that."

"I hate all of you." Jean sulked, sitting up. "I'm not friends with any of you."

Connie spun the bottle and looked delighted at who it landed on. "Truth or dare, Ymir?"

"Truth."

"Awe, are you scared?"

"I know what you're after, Springer. I'm not showing you MY tits."

Connie actually looked dejected for a moment before his whole face lit up again. "Have you had sex with Historia?"

"A lady doesn't kiss and tell."

Eren snorted as he let go of Armin. "You're not a lady."

"No, I'm not. But Historia is."

"So, is that a yes, then?" Connie asked with a sly smile.

"It's a stop thinking about my girlfriend with your dirty mind before I kick your scrawny ass." Several of them laughed at the look on Connie's face as Ymir took the bottle. She spun it quickly and grinned as it came to a stop at Eren. "It's a dream come true. Truth or dare, Jaeger?"

"I'm going to regret this, I'm sure, but dare."

Armin felt a flash of fear as he saw Ymir's gaze flick from Eren to him and back again. She was planning something evil, he was sure of it. "I dare you to kiss Armin…on the lips."

There it was. Armin immediately looked at Eren. He wasn't going to do it, was he? "You're an evil woman. But I won't be out done by Horseface." Eren huffed.

"Wait, what?" Before Armin could move, Eren had grabbed Armin's face and pressed his lips to Armin's.

"Oooooooo." Several of them exclaimed. There were also several whoops. Armin was so surprised that his eyes stayed open, staring into Eren's green ones. After a moment, Eren pulled away, though he was still holding Armin's face. Armin's brain seemed to have short circuited. He couldn't seem to hold a coherent thought. Or move. Or breathe.

"Satisfied?" Eren asked, looking at Ymir.

"Very."

"Good. Then, I'm going to get more cake." Eren let go of Armin's face and stood up. Armin flopped over onto the floor. Eren walked out of the room.

"Poor thing. I think he's traumatized." Sasha stood up and leaned over Armin. She gently patted him on the head. "I'm gonna get more cake too." She said, straightening up and following Eren out of the room.

"Buck up, Armin. It'll be alright." Connie patted Armin on the shoulder before following Sasha.

Armin rolled over to lie on his back. From this position, he could clearly see Mikasa staring down at him from where she still sat next to him.

"Annie, why does your face look like that?" Jean asked. Armin turned his head to look at Annie. She did have a weird look on her face.

"I think that's jealousy you're seeing." Ymir answered.

"I don't know what she has to be jealous about. She already has a headstart on kissing Armin."

Annie's jaw dropped and Armin saw her face begin to turn red before he shifted his gaze. "Holy shit, Mikasa."

"Damn girl. Let it out. I'm going to get my phone in case this turns into a cat fight." Ymir hopped to her feet and bounded from the room.

"Wait, what are you saying?" Jean asked, sounding confused.

"None of your business." Annie snapped.

Armin was staring at Mikasa. If wasn't mistaken, she appeared to be jealous. "Mikasa-"

"Armin, did you and Annie kiss?" Jean interrupted.

"Your face looks as if YOU'RE jealous." Annie said pointedly.

Armin turned his head to look at Jean, who was getting a little red around the ears. "Jean, would it make you feel better if I kiss you too?"

"What? No! Shut up!" Jean's face was turning red.

"Are you sure? I'm an equal opportunity kisser."

"Since when?" Annie asked.

"Since I decided I needed to show affection to my friends." He answered without looking.

"That's it. I'm leaving." Jean rose to his feet and stalked out of the room.

"I'm going to see if there's any of that pot roast left. You coming, Armin?" Annie asked.

"Yeah, in a minute." Armin turned his head in time to see Annie leave.

"So…it finally happened." Mikasa said.

Armin looked at her. "Mikasa Ackerman, are you jealous?"

"Was it everything you ever dreamed of?" she asked, ignoring his question.

"Not even remotely." Something about her presence brightened and her expression was softer as she looked at him. "Mikasa-"

"So, it wasn't better than this?" She shifted so that she was leaning over him, her hair falling down around her face.

"Better than wha-" She leaned down, pressing her lips to his, kissing him deeply. Armin lifted his hands to cup her face. Mikasa lifted one arm to stroke his hair, and lost her balance. She landed on top of him, and he let out a small, "Oomph." Before laughing. "What is it with you and falling on me?"

Suddenly, she lifted her head and rolled off of him. A moment later, Eren came into the room to find the pair of them on their backs, staring up at the ceiling. "What the hell are you weirdos doing?"

Armin looked up at him. "Deciding if we should paint something on the ceiling." He said without missing a beat. "And who are you calling a weirdo?"

"Right. I brought you a piece of cake." Eren held out a plate and Armin sat up and took it.

"Thanks, Eren."

"Yeah, I had to fight Sasha and Connie, damn fiends."

Armin shook his head as Eren sat down and dug into his own slice. "You didn't bring any for Mikasa."

"Look, getting out of there with two slices and all of my limbs was hard enough. I figured we could share."

Mikasa sat up and Armin offered her a forkful of cake. She opened her mouth and let Armin feed her. After she chewed and swallowed, she looked at the boys. "Should we be hiding up here, leaving your grandfather to deal with all of them?"

"I think it'll be fine for a few minutes." Armin shrugged, taking his own bite of cake.

"Hey Armin, are you okay?" Eren asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean with earlier. You're not freaked out or anything?"

"Oh, I'm fine. It was just a game, right?"

"Yeah. Yeah, it was."

"Though I recall being little and you showering me in kisses all the time."

"What? No, I didn't." Eren stared at Armin. "We DID used to snuggle a lot though."

"Why did we stop doing that?"

"No idea." Eren shrugged.

"Hey, more cake please." Mikasa interrupted. Armin grinned at her as he fed her another forkful of cake. She was so cute. He watched her happily chewing and realized he could spend the rest of his life in these little moments with her, and with Eren.