It was late in the afternoon when Erwin was able to finally pick-up his son from after school care. Pulling up in his limo, he walked out and told the driver to wait as he walked towards his son's care room. Knocking three times he waited patiently until someone finally appeared in front of him. Giving them a friendly smile he politely asked for his son. After being told to wait for a moment, the care taker came with his son who stared at the ground hair in front of his face, ignoring his father.

"Now Armin, that's no way to great your father. Say hello, remember manners." The teacher coaches from the side wit an awkward smile as she was crouched down to Armin's level.

"Hello daddy..." Armin replied dully still hiding his face behind his mask and hair. Seeing this Erwin crouched down to his son's level and forcing a few strands of his hair away from his face. And as he did so he finally was able to see the mask and red sclera. Now more concerned than earlier, Erwin dismisses the teacher with an apologetic bow and concentrates on his child. Wondering where to start the older male felt as though the best option is to take his son home; that's exactly what he did.

Grabbing Armin's hand, he followed his son's pace quietly and concentrated on getting to the car. Once in the car, the driver drove them home in no time and there is where Erwin made the first move to investigate his son's mood. He first started out with leading his son into the living room that was decorated in only the best money could buy. Next he went to the kitchen gathering cookies and milk so that Armin could have a treat. Setting the snack down, he watched as Armin took a cookie and nibbled on it.

"How was school today sweet heart?" Erwin inquires casually watching as his son almost chokes on his cookie and desperately grabs at the milk. Patting is son on the back to help him, Erwin panicked a bit on the inside but he wouldn't let Armin know that. Taking in a deep breath, the father tries another approach to his earlier question to find answers.

"You must have had fun today huh? What type of games did you play?"

"..." Still no reply from the other who looked at him with a soulless gaze.

"Armin, are you okay?" Erwin tries the direct approach seeing as the first two times didn't work out so well.

"Fine..." The kindergartner replied avoiding his father's desperate eyes.

"Please don't lie, I know somethings wrong."

"No..."

"Then why aren't you having another cookie? You usually have two."

"Not hungry."

"Honey please, I want you to be happy. Are the others being mean to you?"

"..."

"Yes?"

"..."

"Are they the ones who put that mask on you?"

"No..."

"Then why?"

"..."

"Don't wanna tell!"

"Armin..." Erwin whispers to himself as he reaches his hand up to the mask earning Armin to shy away from his father. Shocked by this reaction he takes his hand away. "Did the other kids do something to your face is that why?"

"No, you lie to me!That's why!" Armin shouts all of the sudden retreating back to his room so that he wouldn't have to answer anymore of his father's pressing questions. Watching as tiny legs carried his son further away from him, Erwin rubbed his temples in frustration. Taking a few moments to compose himself and allow Armin to have time, the adult tried to find out a better way to figure out what happened. Standing up and marching off to his son's room, he peeked his head through noticing that the young boy was already asleep.

Smiling sadly the father walked into his son's room and sat on the edge of the bed. Gently he pet his son's blond hair and stopped when he felt a ribbon. Leaning in closer to see where it was coming from, Erwin saw that Armin still slept with the mask on. Deciding that it would be more comfortable for the young boy to sleep without it, he untied the string and placed the mask on the night stand.

"I'm so sorry Armin. Whatever happened today must have hurt you so much...If only your mother were here, she would know what to do..." Erwin says to himself before kissing the top of Armin's head.

The next morning, Erwin noticed that Armin was awake earlier than before. Peeking into the bathroom, he saw his son struggling to tie his mask back on. Walking over to help him, Erwin surprised his 'mini me' by grabbing the who ribbon pieces and tying them together.

"Thank you daddy." Armin replies with a smile as if nothing happened yesterday.

"You're welcome, but why are you wearing your mask again? Is this what all you young kids are doing now?` I didn't think this would happen until high school."

"No, it just me. I think I look better this way." Armin sated with a bright smile.

"Well okay then, but do you feel better today?"

"Kind of..."

"Well let's make that a yes. Why don't we eat ice cream after school before dinner?"

"W-what really!? Y-YOU SERIOUS!?"

"The most seriously serious I've ever been about anything."

"Yay!"

"Now go get your stuff to go to school ol' sport."

"Mmhmmm!" Armin ran off in a hurry to gather his things giving Erwin relief. Satisfied for now that Armin seemed back to normal, nothing could have stopped him from wondering what happened at school the other day. All he could do was hope and pray that Armin's little mask phase would die down. But little did he know that it never would. Years and years passed and Armin never seemed to get better. If anything they got worse.

When Armin entered middle school, he became more and more some occasions Erwin would find hum crying in his room for no reason, or looking at himself in the mirror with dull eyes. One night in particular, Erwin heard his son say to himself, "If you can't see yourself, you won't compare yourself to others. You will live a happy life!"Hearing this made his heart clench, for it was the first time in years Erwin had found out what was wrong with his son. And even with finally knowing that, he still felt useless that he couldn't do anything. What could a father do for a child who heavily hated their looks?

If he asked the other to see a psychiatrist, the younger blond male would deny everything. However if he left him alone, he feared that he would lead to self harm if nothing were to be done. Stuck in a rut, Erwin thought on different solutions on how to solve his son's problem since he was about to transfer into a different high school for his junior year.

And that is when it hit him. The way to help is son is for him to find compassion and love with others, and what better way but an arranged marriage. Yes,he admitted, it was a bit of an abstract idea but he had no other plans that would work. And who knew maybe when his son falls in love his other half would persuade him to go to therapy.

Now wondering where he should start, Erwin remembered a fellow CEO who had a son of his own who seemed to be kind enough for the job. However the new problem that arose was whether the other was the same sexuality as his son. After all it was some time ago that Armin admitted he was gay to his father, which he had accepted completely. However not everyone in the world is the same so Erwin would have to check.

Picking up his phone,the CEO dialed his friend's number and waited for someone to pick up. After a few rings, he heard the other end pick as he felt a bead of sweat run down the side of his face.

"Hello, Levi Ackerman speaking." The other end responds.

"Ah Levi!" Erwin replies nervously.

"What do you want now? I'm not going out drinking with your ass again."

"N-No, nothing...I-I was just wondering how you and your son was doing?"

"Oh that brat, he's fine. Why do you want to know about him all of the sudden?"

"Just wondering."

"I suppose I should ask how your son is doing."

"Well, he is you know an independent person himself."

"If you have something to say just say it. We're both very busy men."

"Nothing gets past you huh?"

"No not really."

"Well I was wondering what sexuality is your son?"

"Why does that matter?"

"I want to do a little business."

"..."

"Not that way! You see my son has no friends and is heavily depressed. I want to arrange a marriage so that he can be more open to at least one person."

"Why not just have him date."

"I've tried arranging him some dates but he never goes."

"So you want my son to break him in ?"

"A-Ah no! I just want him to fall in love so that he can be happier you know?"

"How will you know my son will agree to all of this?"

"I don't, I was just hoping he would. I-If you can please talk to him about it, and maybe their marriage can make our companies bigger."

"Maybe, I'll get back to you on it. When my son gets back from school I'll ask."

"Thank you Levi."

"Don't thank me yet, the brat has yet to say yes."

"Right then, I will wait for your call." Erwin bids farewell as he hangs up the awaiting his friend's call, Erwin continues to work however his eyes glance to his phone every now and then to make sure he doesn't miss a call. For what seemed like days he stayed this way until late at night the phone finally rang with the caller ID name Levi. Picking it up as fast as possible, Erwin tries to keep himself composed. With a casual cough, Erwin speaks first.

"Hello, Smith speaking."

"The brat is okay with it..."

"He is!?"

"Yes, he said he can seduce your son and marry him but only after high school."

"Thank you so much!"

"We'll discuss business later, I'm too tired for this bull shit."

"That's alright. Thank you so much!"

"..." Levi hangs up first leaving Erwin with a stupid grin on his face. Taking in deep breaths it was now time for the big moment, telling his off to his son's room, he knocked twice waiting for his son to open the door. When it did open he saw Armin with a blue with gold trim masquerade mask that he had bought him for his birthday last year. Walking in slowly he sat on his son's bed as Armin sat at his desk studying.

"Armin, I have news I need to tell you." He begins hoping that the other will take it well, though he knew he probably wouldn't.

"Yes, and what's that?" Armin replies turning his body towards his father.

"You know how I am a CEO for the Wings of Freedom Co. yes?"

"Of course, I'm not dumb."

"Of course my straight A student."

"So what does this have to do with anything, you're beating around the bush."

"Patience."

"Sorry."

"I made a deal with Mr. Ackerman who is the Military Police Co. and he and I both agreed that a marriage will unite our companies."

"W-Wait you're getting married dad!?"

"No not me..."

"T-Then who is?"

"Well you see you are after high school."

"W-What!? N-NO, NO NEVER!" Armin screams as he gets up feeling his breathing pick up.

"Armin listen, you have to do this for the company. And the boy you will be marrying is the same age."

"S-SO! I-I CAN'T MARRY SOMEONE I DON'T KNOW!"

"You will meet him in your new high school."

"W-why!? D-dad I can't, I-I can't!" Armin repeats as his breathing becomes shorter thinking about even making eye contact with the other.

"Armin please breathe."

"How can I!?"

"Please look at the reasoning for all of this. It is the best for the company and you."

"This isn't the medieval times it doesn't have to be this way!"

"Well it is for now I'm sorry to say."

"I-I...I can't b-breathe!"

"A-Armin!"


Admin: Armin's pov will be the next chapter...