Really short. But I think it's cute. You know, if you want me to, I'll continue a bit.

Oh, and I've put a Xanth/AoT crossover up. nothing interesting there yet, only a slightly amusing prologue and deadly boring but sadly necessary first chapter, but I'm looking forward to adding more to it. ^^

-l-l-l- Theme 2 -l-l-l- Reading Quietly -l-l-l-

". . . Jean."

"Mhm?"

"Stop it . . . Now."

"Hm?"

"I . . . am trying . . . to read."

"So?"

"I don't think . . . you understand . . . I want to read."

"Mhm?"

". . . I'm serious! Stop it!" Armin forced through gritted teeth, trying not to arch his back when he felt Jean's fingers slide down his spine again. But it was no good. His body reacted on its own, and he couldn't even keep his face turned towards the book.

"But you're blushing. It's so cute." It was hard to tell if Jean was telling the truth or just trying to provoke him. Armin had to stop an involuntary yelp, feeling as if he had electricity dancing through his whole spine. Every time Jean's fingers ran down his back, the lightest touch that felt like he was tracing the blonde's skin with a feather, it was made every nerve in his spinal cord bombard him with messages of mind-blowing pleasure, panic and lightning.

Blushing, he tried to whack at Jean with the book. But then again, he never learned, did he? Jean easily grabbed his wrist and moved his face between Armin and the pages, grinning mischievously.

"C'mon Armin. Isn't this view much better? Don't you prefer it?"

In a way, Jean was leaving himself open; Armin could just hear Connie or Erin's voice cutting in with some sarcastic comment about horses. But then again, he was the one who had stammered a protest at Connie for mocking Jean a few days ago. Personally, he -blush- saw nothing wrong with Jean's face. And judging from Jean's expression, the other knew that too. . . . Nope, Armin definitely found nothing wrong with the view.

But damn it, he was going to finish that chapter.

He stared back defiantly at Jean, or at least as defiantly as he could attempt to in such close proximity. Jean was smiled at him, and Armin had about a second to be confused before he felt Jean's fingers slide down his back and lightning flash through his spine again. Armin gasped.

Jean tried to hide his smile. "Well?"

"Yes . . ." Armin breathed, prompted by another touch. "Uhm! . . . S-stop it! Ch-Cheater!"

Jean sniffed, lifting his chin haughtily. "Cheater? I know not the word."

"That's probably true."

"Since when-" Jean easily flipped the two of them onto the bed, which immediately squeaked as they bounced slightly, making Armin laugh despite himself, "Do you retort like that?"

"Since you interrupted my reading." Armin tried to glower, but was too breathless. His cheeks were slightly pink and he couldn't help but grin shyly, heart still soaring from falling back onto the bed so abruptly. "Since you blatantly stole my book. And," he finished, not holding back a girlish giggle, "Since you blocked my view of a perfectly lovely page."

"One, you always complain about my interruptions, but you obviously enjoy them. Two, you're still holding the book, so I technically didn't steal it. And three," Jean bumped his forehead into Armin's, moving their faces closer. Armin's eyes were shining unnaturally bright and awake, like pools of vivid blue stars. Excited. And definitely exciting. "You already admitted you prefer this sight."

"Is that all?" Armin tried not to grin.

"Oh yes, you're right!" Jean laughed and pulled his partner onto him, wrapping his arms around the blonde. "You're my property, so all of your arguments are invalid anyway!"

Exclamation. "P-Property? Who said anything about property!?"

"I did. Mhm, me and mine!"

"Jean-!"

The two scuffled again, both breathless and ruffled and they rolled on the bed, kicking a pillow off of it and mussing the blankets something fierce. If Levi had only seen the state of their bed and them, well- the corporal would've nail their coffins with a deadpan stare. Jean finally caught hold of Armin's face and tried to kiss him, but the boy lurched back with surprising strength, and, with a wild expression of triumph on his face and blue eyes, the blonde waved the book he had freed at a confused Jean.

"No, you don't!" Armin replied with grim satisfaction, sitting up with the book before him, "Not till I finish this chapter!"

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope! We'll continue this- after I get some quiet reading done!" Armin grinned and shoved his nose back into the book, leaning back comfortably against Jean, who, with a slightly bemused expression, embraced the blonde.

"You know how I said the way you hang around Eren is creepy? Well, this comes second."

"Quiet reading, I said." The boy responded playfully.

. . .

"Jean! Don't you dare- this- again-!"

"But I'm being quiet~"