I'm back! I really missed writing these. I find it so stress relieving I don't know why.

As always, I don't own SNK or any of its characters.

You'd think it shouldn't be possible to feel awkward in a room full of people who aren't truly conscious of their actions, but Armin managed it somehow.

He was sitting alone in the corner of a couch, cursing his new roommate while desperately wishing to become invisible. He silently stared at the book in his hands that he had been able to sneak from his bag before Eren dragged him to the party. The brunette practically ditched him the moment they entered the room, but not before leaving him in the middle of a giant crowd. He tried hard not to panic and made his way to the first isolated place he could find. The couch had been empty and he had kind of been hoping it would be enough to blend into the background. Maybe everybody would be too drunk to see him there. Hopefully.

The truth was Armin couldn't even focus on the letters on the page. The screams and laughs around him were deafening and he found his body tense, as if expecting to be attacked at any moment.

He had never been to a party before. Not one of these anyway. The closest thing had been his aunts wedding where everyone was at their table having pleasant conversations with family members they didn't really care about. This was very different and just as disagreeable. Armin wanted to leave. He really did, but he had made the ridiculously terrible decision of setting himself the goal of becoming more social.

Yeah look at you. You're doing great. He mocked himself, but he knew that leaving would not benefit him either.

He thought about setting the book down and looking for Eren. He didn't know much about the brunette except for the conversation they had while unpacking their things. He had seemed like and energetic and friendly guy. Friendly must have been a correct assumption since he told Armin that he had already been invited to a party, the first on of the year, and that the blonde should totally come with. At that moment, it had seemed like a good idea.

I'm really going to give Eren an earful for ditching me.

He began to think about what he was going to tell the brunette when he suddenly felt a hand take hold of his arm and pull him off the couch. He was so startled he dropped his book.

"I got the fiiiiiifth!" Armin heard a yell next to his ear, the source being the girl who had just kidnapped him. He soon found himself being pushed down into a sitting position in a circle of evidently drunk people. The blonde was so confused he didn't even have time to panic.

Jean was only slightly annoyed. He didn't mind looking after his friend who, despite what people thought, was a huge drunk. Usually it was very funny to watch as everyone around him lost sight of reality little by little (some had their shortcuts of course). Marco was one of those happy drunks who suddenly found everything funny and just pretty much turned into a fucking ray of sunshine. Jean wasn't against drinking but he more often than not found himself being the designated driver. But, as stated before, he didn't really mind.

What he did mind, though, was when the drunk people tried to drag him into their drunk games. Marco had begged him to join in on spin the bottle.

"There aren't enough people! We wont be able to play!" His friend whined. Jean smirked.

"I didn't know you were into these games."

"They're fuuun! It's all fun!" Jean rolled his eyes. He loved Marco but there were times he had to stop himself from punching the guy.

"I don't really thi-"

"Jean don't be a party pooper! Come on we'll even let you start!" A random girl said, appearing out of nowhere and taking hold of his arm. The only thing that stopped Jean from shaking her off was how unbalanced her walking was and the thought that she would probably fall down if he did so. He sighed and decided to give up. He knew arguing with drunk people had no end and no victory.

That's how he got dragged into the game. Some were calling it "7 minutes in heaven" while others said "spin the bottle" and Jean was already promising a long talk with Marco after this.

The last person to join the group arrived. It was a blonde boy who seem to have been forcefully dragged as well. He seemed completely conscious and yet it was obvious he did not know what was going on at all.

Looks like I'm not the only person not drinking tonight. Jean thought with some interest.

The guy next to the blonde gave the boy one look up and down. The blonde began to stand, trying to leave, but was brought back down by the weight of the guy's arm over his shoulders. The blonde looked really freaked out.

"Hey baby, you should stay and play with us." Jean scowled in distaste. The guy pressed his face against the blonde's neck. "You smell good…"

"Jean! It's your turn!" The brunette's attention snapped away from the scene as he looked at the bottle in the center of their circle. He could still hear the guy saying annoying things.

Jean spun the bottle. Everyone was too drunk to notice as Jean's hand sneaked near it and stopped it as it pointed right at the blonde.

"Oh will you look at that! Guess I'm taking him away for a while." Jean stood up. The guy next to the blonde pouted.

"I saw him first!"

"Hey, you were the one who insisted he played!" Jean caught the blonde's eye. He seemed eager to get away as he outstretched his arm. Jean quickly took it and pulled him out of the guy's grip. They two practically ran into the closet where the "game" should take place.

The moment the door closed, everything was dark. Although there was lots of noise on the other side of the door it seemed unreal. Inside, the only sounds were those of their slightly heavy breathing.

The silence was a little awkward until the blonde spoke.

"Thank you." He said honestly. "I saw what you did."

"Yeah well as the only other person in this party with their mental faculties intact I felt like I had to intervene." They both took a seat on the floor, facing each other. The space was too small for their legs not to touch.

"So you aren't drinking?"

"Nah. Designated driver. What about you?" A sudden thought came to mind. "Don't tell me you are one of those who studies all the time and never goes to parties and that the only time they do is because they got dragged there and they even bring a book." Their eyes were adjusting to the darkness and Jean could see the blonde turning away in embarrassment. Jean laughed out loud. "You are that guy!"

"Parties just aren't my thing. I don't see the point of spending a day doing things just to not remember them the next." The blonde muttered.

"Well you better get used to it. College and all." Jean answered with a smirk. The blonde raised his head in mock defiance.

"I can just avoid them. I'll find a way."

"But they're part of the whole experience!"

The blonde sighed.

"That's kind of the only reason why I came along. I've sort of decided to force myself to be more social but it hasn't been off to a great start."

"Maybe you just need to learn to let loose. You never know what you could be missing out on."

"Pft. Oh surely my life will be lacking greatly if I don't ever make out with some stupid drunk guy in a closet." Jean raised an eyebrow. The blonde realized what he said and moved closer, shaking his hands in a panicked gesture. "I don't mean you! I mean, you aren't drunk." Jean chuckled.

"Well if it makes you feel any better I've never made out with a stupid drunk guy in a closet before either. Although one time I'm pretty sure a girl tried to rape me." The blonde laughed. A comfortable silence fell over the small space.

"I guess we got lucky, huh?" The blonde said. "We might have had to do something uncomfortable if either of us hadn't been here."

"Yeah… lucky…" They were both looking at each other now. At that realization, the blonde looked away shyly.

"I mean not that it would be unappealing to kiss you- ah- I mean that's why I said if either of us weren't- I mean-" Even in the dark Jean could tell the blonde was blushing profoundly. They were both getting closer to each other. Almost naturally, Jean took the boy's face in his hands. The blonde looked up and they both stared into each other's eyes.

"We don't have to do anything… if you don't want to…" Jean whispered and yet they were still getting closer. They were close enough that the blonde was able to hold onto Jean's shirt.

"Maybe I d-"

"TIMES UP. MOVE IT." Both boys leaped away from each other and out of the closet with mad blushes on their faces. The guy from before smiled when he saw the blonde, who winced before forcing a laugh.

"Aha I just remember I have to go…" He pointed everywhere and seemed to be shaking. "Somewhere." With that, he was out of sight. Jean reached out for him and opened his mouth to call out, when he realized he didn't even know the boy's name. Jean sighed and found himself wishing he could have at least kissed him.

Armin had never felt so embarrassed in his entire life. He couldn't stop thinking about the party from the day before and the fact that he actually had a lot of classes with the brunette he almost kissed did not help.

All day they both avoided each other's gaze and couldn't help blush a lot. The blonde had planned to keep it up but he suddenly felt a hand take hold of his arm in the middle of the hallway.

"I can't take it anymore." Armin gave a startled jump. He turned around just to see who the person he had been so arduously avoiding. "Don't you think it's time we stop pretending to ignore each other?"

The blonde stuttered.

"Ignore? Who's been doing that? Have you been doing that? I have-" The brunette raised an eyebrow. Armin sighed in defeat. "Ok. I've been doing that." He was surprised when the boy smiled.

"I think it's time we confront this." He offered the blonde a handshake. "Hi. I'm Jean Kirschtein. I rescued you from a drunk guy and almost kissed you last night."

Armin jolted at the offered gesture. He gave a nervous but amused laugh before shaking Jean's hand.

"I'm Armin Arlert. I don't frequent parties and I almost kissed you last night." Jean chuckled.

"Well now that that's out in the open, wanna head to lunch?"

Jean had been nervous about approaching the blonde but he immediately knew he had made the right choice. The awkwardness between them was gone the moment they acknowledged the "problem" and they soon fell into a comfortable chatter. They walked together to the cafeteria and shared some facts about each other.

In the darkness of a closet the blonde had captured his attention. Hell, if he was honest it happened the moment he saw him confused in the circle of drunk people. As he watched Armin laugh at a joke he had just said he found himself promising that he would learn everything there was to know about the blonde boy and he would one day kiss him.

They were suddenly joined by their other friends. Eren scowled when he laid eyes on Jean.

"Armin! What are you doing with this horse face?"

"Huh? Do you know Jean, Eren?"

"Hey, you didn't defend me from that comment!" Jean whined. The blonde ignored him.

"Yeah I know him! He's just the biggest jerk there is!"

"Watch it, Jaeger." For some reason their interactions made Armin laugh.

"I'm going to go get some napkins. Try not to kill each other till I come back." Jean followed the blonde with his eyes. He himself did not notice the stupid smile that was on his face.

"Whoa dude, no."

"Huh?" Jean turned to Eren with annoyance. The boy was scowling (but when was he not?)

"Do you have a thing for Armin? He's my roommate, therefore my friend, therefor off limits." Jean blinked in surprise before laughing heartily. Eren sat up angrily.

"What are you laughing at?!" The taller brunette whipped and imaginary tear, then sent Eren a cocky grin.

"I was already planning on going after him, but this just settled it even more."