"What do you have in mind," the other teen asked as Armin stood with emotionless eyes staring at him. Looking down at his phone again he sends another message not wanting to grace the other with the sound of his voice. Therefore he refrained from using it. After a few taps on his smart phone's screen, the blond hit the send button waiting for the other to receive the a few seconds the familiar sound of Eren's message notification set off. Following that sound Eren opened the message and read it out loud.

"Exactly what I said, you play boy..." Eren read aloud not appreciating the nickname. "Shut up will you and why are you even here this late in the night?" The brunette inquires before looking at the blond who was furiously texting him the story of why he was there.


-Earlier that day-

Like any other morning Armin's alarm started to ring before he woke up. Hitting the clock, Armin groans and rolls in his bed not wanting to get out. Everything that happened yesterday tired him out, and he just felt like he couldn't get out. He didn't want to see anyone's faces anymore, even if it had only been a day. However, after five minutes of not getting up and allowing a deep sleep to take over his body. Then all of the sudden his father barged into his on the light, the elder clapped his hands taking off the covers from his body.

"Come on it's time for you second day of school! You don't want to be late. I got you a new mask today to celebrate your first day of high school that I forgot to give you yesterday.I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen." Erwin told his son before turning around making sure he didn't see a glimpse of his son's face knowing that it would be bad if he did.

Once he was alone, the younger groaned and opened his heavy eyes once more. Feeling the weight of his body and emotions tried to keep him there, he forced himself out of bed. Putting on his slippers Armin looked to the side where indeed a new mask had been laid out for him to see. Excitedly Armin grabbed it and examined every feature of it. It was yet another masquerade mask, but this time it was decorated in blue with gold piping on it. Hugging the object Armin made a mental note to thank his dad for the gift. Now feeling a bit better than he originally started, Armin grabbed his uniform and marched over to the bathroom happily, keeping his eyes on the mask.

Then he placed the mask ever so delicately on the counter, before tying his hair up in a small pony-tail. Reaching over to his side Armin grabbed the toothbrush and toothpaste and began to brush his teeth. Closing his eyes he happily hummed to the tune of Just Right by Got 7. After a good two minutes the blond spit out the mixture of saliva and toothpaste to begin rinsing him mouth and washing his face. Splashing his face with water, the teen searched for a face towel blindly and began to pat his face dry. And the moment he was able to open his eyes and see his reflection, Armin's smile fell. He stared at his face for a few seconds before caressing his own cheek and stretching them out a little. Thus began the part of the morning that Armin hated the most, being reminded about how ugly he was.

Scanning himself in complete disgust, Armin saw all his insecurities surface with every glance into the mirror. His eyes were too big which made him look terrified, there was bags under his eyes from those sleepless nights where his negative thoughts wouldn't let hims sleep,his eye brows took big, and his nose which he found to be too mousy. Everything he noticed made him shiver in disgust and allowed the recorded voices in his head to play 'ugly, ugly, Armin's ugly' in his head. Not wanting to hear those words produced by his subconscious anymore, Armin scrambled to place his mask on which made him feel safe. After that he took a deep breath, and with the same mono-toned voice as always he repeated his motto to his reflection.

"If you can't see yourself, you won't compare yourself to others. You will live a happy life!" He repeats to himself ten times since, the traditional three times wasn't working this time. After he was done, the masked teen then turned to his door where he headed down to the kitchen to meet his father. And like every morning, his father would make breakfast and eat with him at the table. But just like all the times before that, Armin ate silently in front of him making sure that his chewing wasn't too loud for the other.

"So Armin, I heard you met your fiancee. How was he?" Erwin talks first.

"..." Armin didn't reply not wanting to tell his father the truth about what he thought about his fiancee.

"I get it you don't have to tell me, but hey will you do me a favor?"

"Sure, I guess..." The teen replies back as he watches his father pull out a piece of paper with numbers on it presenting it to him.

"This is your fiancee's phone number. I want you to have it so that you guys cant chat easily. I also highly doubt you got his number."

"No thank you dad."

"Oh come on for me, think of it like an emergency contact. I'm not saying you have to talk to him everyday, but just in case you need to talk to someone or even need a ride home when the driver can't get you."

"F-Fine then I guess..." Armin replies reluctantly taking the number and punching in the numbers into his contact list that only consisted of his father, the driver, , and now Eren."Thank you so much." Erwin thanked with a smile before shoving another piece of food into his mouth. "Oh also another thing,"Erwin announces before swallowing his food. "I have an meeting that I want you to go to. It'll be until really late so be prepared to stay up. We're going to be discussing the public announcement of the company's new partnership."

"Why do I have to go?" Armin asked really not looking forward to another social setting.

"Well it does concern you, also I don't trust you here alone."

"What could I possibly do?"

"I don't know, but just this once will you come with me? After that, I swear to leave you home alone."

"You owe me another book then."

"You drive a hard bargain Armin, but I accept. Pleasure doing business with you." Erwin takes his hand out to shake his son's hand, which Armin accepted with a slight grin.

"Same to you." Armin replied, then continued to eat his food. After he was all done, the driver had come to pick him up and he went inside the car. Watching the scenery pass him like usual, Armin wished that he could just disappear from this world of perfection. With a sigh, he felt the ache of his heart once more, but ignored the feeling knowing that it would never go away. Eventually when he got to school, Armin braced himself for another tiring day before stepping out of the car. Thanking the driver before he left, Armin turned around and started to head to his first period class.

On his way there, he could still hear the student's chatters with his name laced into the conversations like yesterday. Though he hated it with a burning passion he had no power over them, so he remained quiet without looking at anyone until he got into the classroom. Once inside he felt like someone was watching him but immediately shook off the feeling since everyone was had been staring at him lately. Nevertheless, he failed to notice Eren who was eagerly striding towards him, and once he finally did the other was in front of him smiling. Observing the brunette, the blond asked himself multiple questions in his head as to why the other was in front of him. Was he here to hit on him again? Should he say hello? Would he even reply back? Letting out a sigh allowing the hot air from his mouth to escape, Armin scrapped all of his questions going for silence since that option was the safest to go with.

"Good morning, you look lovely today. I got you toast and orange juice just in case you skipped breakfast." The words escape the other's mouth, but Armin knew they were rehearsed and fake so he waited until the other allowed him to pass by freely. And once he did, he saw the objects that Eren said he had placed on his desk. Placing his bag onto the hook of his desk, Armin sat in his seat and began to examine the objects. Seeing the letter, he opened it up and read the words. A bit annoyed on how hard Eren was working to get Armin to even notice, him Armin decided to let the other know how he truly felt about the harassment.

Searching through his bag he got out a pen and began to edit the note he was given. After a few revisions, Armin dubbed the letter ready for someone else to read. Ignoring the voice at the back of his head that was telling him not to do this, he did it anyways. Grabbing everything on his desk, he walked up to his fiancee's desk and placed the things while he looked distracted. Then he went back to his desk copying notes that were on the board. He didn't care to see if the other had read the note already since the sound of crumpling paper from his direction confirmed it.

Later on class ended, Armin quickly packed his things and started to make his ways out of the class. However his fiancee so happened to follow him closely behind which pissed Armin off to no end. Why didn't this guy get I want nothing to do with him!? I want my life as a ghost back, leave me alone! Armin screams in his head as he looks straight down the hall way trying not to give Eren any attention.

Hey wait up, I'm not done talking to you. You know that was kind of mean what you did. It hurt my feelings you know?" Eren says with a forced laugh. But Armin stood his ground and ignored the other's question.

"Not talking today are you? Or am I just that good looking that you can't make eye contact with me?"

"..."

"Come on, say something. Come on you know you want to talk to me." The other says one more trying to get Armin to answer which only made his eyes roll. Picking up the pace a bit more, Armin used his small build to weave himself through he crowd away from the other. In doing so he was able to avoid his fiancee and gain what little peace he could get when you're the fiancee of the school's play boy.

Once the end of fourth period ended, Armin finally cracked a smile again that day. The thought of learning things from his favorite staff member excited him, and he didn't want to miss another moment with her. Packing up his things as fast as possible, he noticed an unfamiliar piece of paper that fell from his desk. Going down to grab it, Armin saw that the paper had his name on it and then flipped it over to read the note.

Meet us on the roof top during lunch. We have things to discuss.

Crumbling up the note, Armin sighed knowing someone was calling him out. All thoughts of having a normal second day of school went out the door with that note. With a sigh he reluctantly packed the last of his things and searched the campus for the roof's stairs. Once he found them, he went up and saw a group of females standing there angrily at him. Swallowing down his anxiety, Armin let out another breath and tried not to show them his his time walking up to them, the blond clenched the end of his shirt into his hands and braced himself for their words.

"You know why you're here right?" One of the girls with a pink bow in her hair ask with her hands on her hips.

Um, no because you didn't put that in the note, Armin said to himself but shook his head to tell the other girl his answer.

"Well we called you here, because no way are we having someone like you have our Eren." The other with red hair states.

Have him, I don't want a prick like that. Now please leave me alone...I don't want to talk to you because no matter what I say you'll react inappropriately...

"Yeah, you think you can marry him because you wear a mask huh?" The third one accuses.

That has to be the dumbest argument I've ever heard...

"Hey why aren't you answering here loser!?"

"Probably because he knows we're right."

"Hey why don't we take off that mask of yours? Better yet, why don't we just beat you up so that you learn you lesson. After all I wouldn't want to see what is under your mask anyways. What do you say girls?"

"Oh yeah, I like that plan! let's do it!"

"Well it's settled, then after all he can't do anything. If news gets around that he hit a few girls he would be shunned, and no one would believe it was in the name of self defense." The leader remarks before laughing out lout and pointing towards Armin so they could advance towards him. Watching as the three approached, cornering him. Looking left to right and observing their sinister faces, Armin's mind took him back to the day all those years ago where he first started wearing the mask. Once more the childish sounds chanted their mantra over and over again. The three in front of him then morphed into a few of those children,along with the sky closing in on him causing to go into a fetal position. So captured by the memory, Armin could feel the trio's kicks and punches that felt like he was back in that moment once more.

" You look like a girl Armin, and that makes you ugly since boys shouldn't look like you."

"Yeah girly girly you look girly~!"

"B-But I like how I look. P-papa says I look handsome."

"Well he lied to you. You're ugly! Hey guys you wanna play a game? Let's all circle around Armin and tell him how ugly he is."

"Ugly,ugly Armin's ugly~!"

"Stop it! Stop it!"

"Ugly Ugly Armin's ugly~!"

"Oh my gosh look, is little Armin crying?This is so rich!" The girl with the bow mocks as she delivers another hit to Armin's abdomen.

"Crying already, that's no fun. Ha ha, but I think we're done here. We can't kill him, I wouldn't stoop as low as to do something like that. By the sides he is irrelevant and we haven't eaten lunch yet." And with a clap of her hands, the women stopped and observed what they had done. Lingering for a few seconds, the girls then packed their things, and continued onto their daily lives as if nothing had happened. Once he was safely alone, Armin slowly got up with what strength he had ad wiped his tears from underneath his mask. Deciding now was the best time to see Hanji again, Armin slowly got up using the wall to help steady himself. With shaky legs, Armin walked towards the stair case until he was able to hold onto the railing. Griping the cold metal firmly, and went down step by step , stopping every so often to clench his muscles when he felt pain in a certain area.

Sighing in relief when he got on the level the infirmary was at, Armin came across another problem. People would look and wonder what had happened to him. Cursing his fate, Armin stood up as straight as he could and bit his lip before walking down the hall as normal as possible. Eyes focusing straight down the hall way, Armin made sure to ignored the states as best he could. However at the moment the stairs didn't have as much an impact on him as they usually would for he was in too much pain. When the infirmary was in sight, he speed walked the rest of the way and saw Hanji sitting eating her lunch peacefully.

"Please help me. M-My whole body hurts..." Armin struggled to say, while earning the other's attention. Soon enough the nurse rushed over to him, to help him stand.

"Oh my goodness, Armin what happened to you!? Who did this to you?" Hanji ask as she helps Armin to one of the beds she had at the ready.

"N-No one...I-I just fell down the stairs getting here..."

"And no one cared to help you? Did you even ask for help?"

"I-It's okay, I-I don't want t ruin anyone's peaceful day."

"Armin that is bad, you needed help. I can't believe something like this happened at our school." Hanji states as she lifts Armin's shirt up to see the bruises and red marks that started to form on his body. After that she proceeded to examine the boys, Armins only to see the same thing. Stepping back to gather her thoughts, the nurse began muttering to herself as she started to get ointment out for Armin.

"Armin, I don't think this is any falling down he case what I see, it looks like someone did this to you."

" I just fell down the stairs..."

"I find that hard to believe."

"B-But it's the truth..." Still not believing his story, Hanji sighs as she puts the ointment on a cotton ball and then Armin's bruises. Delicately she patted the areas, and looked up to Armin every now and then making sure she wasn't pressing too hard.

"Well if that's what happened, then I can't do anything about that but treat your pain a bit. But I suggest you go home because of how severe your injuries are. Of course that's up to yo-..."

"I want to go home!" Armin exclaims a bit too loud, and covers his mouth with his hands.

"I see, well then I'll call your father and tell him about what happened."

"N-No please don't..."

"But how will you get home?"

"The family driver will do that. Please just call him."

"I suppose I could, but I don't know his phone number."

"XXX-XXX-XXXX."

"W-Well then, after I'm done I'll call him." Hanji replied caught a bit off guard at how eager Armin was to get out of the school. However that did make her interested to how the boy acted. Finishing up her job, Hanji allowed Armin to rest as she called the driver. Closing the curtains on Armin, Hanji gave the blond the time he needed to mentally recover.


Once home, Armin booked it to his room and removed his mask so that his face could be freed. He then walks over to his bed and falls face forward allowing the blankets to restrict his breathing a bit. And the moment when he needed more, air he turned his head to the side staring at the drawn curtains feeling only physical pain. As he laid there, the teen thought of nothing and simply existed. All of the energy he had in him was stolen away from school and the encounter with the girls on the roof top. Drained and sore, the blond then remembered his father's meeting that he had to attend to and groaned. Why did he have to go anyways, to a bunch of business men he was nothing more than a kid. And they only acted nice to him since he was the CEO's son and soon-to-be CEO. With that little reminder it only added more stress to Armin's life since he didn't really want to be the next CEO.

Letting out a long sigh, Armin wondered what in the world he did to deserve such a life. With all the things he had to go through, it was too much for Armin. Choosing to distract himself Armin, took out his I pod, and started playing a play list of his favorite songs so that he would calm down. And just like always it worked like a charm. How he loved to listen to music to help him escape reality and lose himself through the lyrics of a song. Through the lyrics he lived another life and in that other life Armin felt happier. In those moments when the music would sing the blond felt as though he was no longer plagued with his reality. It was like the best friend he never had hugging him, and telling him things were going to be alright. The one thing he wanted the most in the world he could get through music. There was nothing more pleasing than that sensation.

Alone in his room he sings his songs, happy in his own little world. As the words escape his mouth, the teen could feel all his anxieties, all his worries, and all his doubt escape him. That blissful feeling he wished so much to hold onto, however like usual his sessions of happiness were interrupted by the knocking of a door. Hearing the sound, Armin runs over and opens the door to see who it was;it was his father. The adult gave a simple hello with happy eyes, and in his father's reading glasses, he saw his reflection without a mask on. Quickly he shuts the door, cursing himself for being so careless as he scrambles to finds something to cover his face with. Spotting the mask he had thrown earlier, he quickly puts that on.

"YOU SAW!" Armin exclaims as he rushes to put his beloved mask on.

"N-No, Armin I-I don't I swear!" Erwin says panicking a bit remembering his son's delicate state.

"YES YOU DID!I'M SORRY!"

"N-No, it's fine! I didn't even notice!On my honor as your dad I didn't see anything."

"Y-you sure?"

"Promise, now open the door please."

"F-Fine..." Armin replies opening the door and seeing his father again.

"Well then Armin, you don't look like you're ready for the meeting."

"What do you mean, it doesn't start until a few hours."

"Actually it starts in an hour."

"W-what!?"

"Yes, so it's best you get dressed now. I'll be waiting in the car since I'm already ready."

"But you're going to be early."

"Better early than late. After all you know what I say."

"The makings of a good business man is to always be on time."

"Exactly, so get ready sport." Erwin leaves with a pat to the head. After seeing his father off, Armin closed his door and hit himself on the head. While he was in his little world, he forgot about guilty that his father was stuck waiting for him, Armin burst into his closet grabbing: khakis, a dress shirt, tie, light blue sweater vest and his dress shoes. Stripping off his clothing in record time, Armin then clothed himself in the same time. After that he brushed his hair and adjusted his mask before taking his phone,wallet, and I pod and bolting it out of his house. Panting heavily, Armin sat in the car where his father watched him gasp for air.

"You know we weren't in a rush right?" The elder ask with a chuckle.

"...Y-yeah..."

"I guess we can have dinner together tonight then. Hop in and we'll go to your favorite place."

"S-sounds great..." Armin agrees, then gets into the car heading towards his favorite restaurant. Once they had arrived there, Erwin opens the door for his son and the both walk into the restaurant. Ordering their usual, the two blonds sat together in awkward silence.

"So, anything happen between you and Eren today?" Erwin spoke to start a conversation.

"Nothing really, he did give me somethings to snack on and asked me out on a date."

"Wow really, how nice of him."

"I guess, but his way of flirting with me is over played. He is trying way too hard, and is only doing it because of the agreement. So I gave him his stupid breakfast back and rejected his invitation for a date."

"How could you do that Armin."

"Dad, he's a play boy and I hate people like him."

"So you've figured it out."

"Yes, did you honestly think I wouldn't."

"I was hoping you wouldn't, but I knew you would catch on sooner or later."

"So now you see why we should cancel the engagement."

"I am not canceling this engagement Armin."

"And why not? I'm not just a thing you can use to get ahead in this economy. I have a right to like who I want to like."

"Yes, but you haven't even tried falling in love or making friends."

"Well why do I have to fall in love before making friends?"

"Because people who fall in love change."

"Well not me, I'm never going to fall in love. So this whole deal is pointless. The only thing me and him seem to agree on is trying to get out of this whole deal."

"How do you know?"

"His desperation for me to even look his way says it all..."

"So, I really think he is a good thing for you."

"Sure he is, and wrestling it totally my thing too."

"Armin don't take that tone with me."

"Fine, but I stand by what I say. I'll never like someone like him."

"Will you even try being friends with him."

"No."

"What if I make a deal with you?"

"What kind of deal?"

"How about this? If you at least can last a year with being his friend and changing his ways, I'll let you study abroad in Korea and get a job there for two years before you take over this company?"

"R-really K-Korea!" Armin exclaims with excitement after hearing his father's words. Going Korea had always been his dream, the culture was beautiful along with the most of all he wanted to teach English there.

"Yes, only if you can be friends with at least Eren, and change his attitude after your junior year is over."

"Y-You're not lying to me right? Y-You know I've always wanted to study there."

"Yes, I know. And you know how I keep my word."

"I'll do it!" Armin agrees.

"Well then it's settled, and look our food is here." Erwin says as the food was placed right in front of them. Watching as the waiter places their meals, Erwin couldn't help but notice his son's smile, one he hadn't seen in years. After they had finished their dinner, the two went to the company meeting and discussed the things that Erwin had warned Armin about. When it came to the topic of his engagement, Erwin didn't mention their deal and simply stated it as if it wasn't even made. Accepting that the business men wouldn't accept the deal, Armin remained quiet. In the middle of their talking however, Armin got thirsty and walked to a near by Seven Eleven to get a few snacks for his father.

On his way back however, Armin noticed a club near the Seven Eleven. Choosing to ignore it, Armin turned to return to the office building which was a block away. However he was stopped when he heard familiar voices.

"NO Eren! If she can be the person for dad to drop this agreement with and make you happy I'll hear you out! I'll help you. Just tell me who she is." A feminine voice begs the male in front of her to answer. Upon hearing that voice Armin could recognize it as the student body president Mikasa Ackerman. Deciding to walk up and see what was going on, Armin walked a bit closer.

"SHE'S YOU OKAY!THERE YOU HAPPY!" An angered voice yells which could be none other than Playboy Eren. Gasping to himself Armin, stopped where he was and awestruck by what he had just heard.

"I-I'll wait in the car...Just hurry up okay..." Mikasa says as she retreats away from her sibling awkwardly leaving him there to regret what had just in the shadows, Armin started to think to himself how this piece of information could help him out. And when he found out a solution, the started to walk up to the brunette who was having a wanting to interrupt the other through spoken words, Armin took out his phone and started texting Eren with the number his father gave him.

Inputting the message and sending it, the masked teen waited for the other to notice. After a few seconds, Armin walked a bit closer and waited few feet away from Eren as he saw the other read his message. Once eye contact was made, Armin knew that there was no turning back now when the other had said, "What did you have in mind?"


And that's why I'm here. Armin ended his short story there leaving out a few things here and there for two reasons. One he did't want to text that much and two the other didn't need to know.

"Wait so they are going to announce our engagement on TV soon?"

Yup, surprised your father hasn't told you yet.

"That's probably what Mikasa was talking about..."

Probably.

"Hey why not talk to me like a regular human being?"

When you deserve the right for me to treat you like one, I will.

"Wow, that's low even for you."

Whatever, anyways do you want to make a deal?

"Depends what you had in mind."

Something simple. I heard what happened and I think I can help you.

"How, it's impossible, and someone like you knows nothing about love."

True, but what option do you have? Your tactics aren't working.

"Like yours are so much better."

Maybe, who knows. Maybe you don't like her as much as I thought.

"I LOVE HER!"

Great then, to know. But you don't love her enough to change do you?

"I only act this way because she doesn't like me."

Wow, you're childish...

"So what."

Here's the deal, I teach you how to be the Eren she'll want to be her lover. While you get the whole school off my back about this whole 'I wear a mask' thing.

"Sounds too good to be true."

Well I guess, you don't want her to love you then...Too bad, you guys make a great couple. Armin text before turning around and walking away waiting for the other one to call him out. He did admit he was acting a bit out of character, but in order to get what he wanted Armin had to do this.

"No wait!" Armin pauses and sends another text. Change your mind?

"I want her to love me, please teach me how to be a ...nice guy..."

Perfect, then it's a deal. Lets shake on it. Extending a hand out, the masked boy waits for the other to grasp it and seal the deal. When the other put his hand into his, they shook on their agreement.

Nice guy lessons, start tomorrow after school.


Admin: Yay here we go. Enjoy my lovelies~!