I'M SO SO SORRY!

I went to a summer program, and then I had to catch up on summer homework, and then school started, and I MISSED JEARMIN WEEK OH MY GOD!

So here's my ridiculous attempt to catch up. I can't promise one per day, honestly it'll be more like one per week but my goal is to stay constant!

So with that little note, we begin this year's Jearmin week prompts!

Clinging to someone for dear life really makes you bond, believe me.

The soda bottle had barely touched Jean's lips when he received Connie's call. The brunette gave a frustrated sigh as he put down his drink and took out his phone.

"What?"

"Hey man! I have a favor to ask! Can you come over to my apartment with your motorbike? My neighbor is late and he needs a ride to work!"

Jean rubbed at his temple.

"And why is this my business?"

"Well it's kinda my fault he's late!"

"Kinda?"

"Ok! And it's also not the first time, so I really owe him this." Jean rolled his eyes. "Come on, man! Let me guess: You're at the corner shop buying a soda." The brunette looked down at his hand. "It's not like you have anything better to do!" Jean growled.

"I don't know, I feel pretty tempted to let you have to face that friend of yours."

"Come on! He's really nice! He doesn't deserve that! You know how hard being my friend can be!" He knew that, indeed.

Connie heard a defeated sigh, signaling his victory.

"Fine. I'll be there in 5. Your friend better be ready."

"Thanks man!" Connie quickly gave him the address where to take his friend. "I promise that next ti-" He hanged up, putting his phone away and taking a long sip of his soda before throwing it away and putting on his helmet.

Being on his motorcycle always calmed Jean. The blur of cars and traffic was hypnotizing, and the sounds as he rushed by made adrenaline surge through his body. It was in those moments that he felt truly alive.

Jean caught sight of Connie's form as he neared the street. He also saw the blurred shape of someone besides him, a speck of blonde that didn't hold his attention for long.

He parked before them, not turning to greet. He heard Connie's voice, which rose annoyance inside him immediately.

"Your ride is here!"

"W-what! Connie! I-I can't go on that!" The unfamiliar voice sounded startled and on the edge of panic.

"You can't be late again, Armin!"

"And whose fault is that!"

Losing patience, Jean made the motorcycle roar to catch their attention. He heard "Armin" give a small yelp.

"Sorry! No time to argue!"

"H-hey! S-stop!" From the corner of his eye, Jean saw Connie forcefully pull his friend onto the bike. That was all he needed to see to start moving.

"Hold on!" Connie yelled out right as the vehicle began its motion. Jean felt the person behind him lose balance as he cried out. Almost immediately though, he felt a pair of hands hold tightly onto his shoulders.

"CONNIE!" But the bike was already rushing through the streets.

As they gave a turn, the brunette heard Armin squeak and felt him hide his head behind Jean's back. At every little bounce, the boy would tighten his grip or burry his head even harder against him. Weak whimpers would surface, and he swore he even heard "please stop" at some point.

Somehow, the blonde's gestures touch his heart. He suddenly wanted the boy to feel all right. Being on the motorcycle was so liberating for Jean, but here Armin was just genuinely suffering, feeling unsafe. Jean knew that was uncalled for: he wouldn't let anything happen to the blonde.

The person behind him was holding onto him tighter and sitting closer to him than anyone ever had before. It felt incredibly intimate, and the brunette felt the sudden desire to protect him.

He found a place to park. The motorcycle came to a stop, but Armin's grip did not lessen. Neither did his head rise.

"A-are we there?"

Jean found himself chuckling.

"Not yet. I just thought you would like this." Finally, the blonde gathered the courage (or was it simply the curiosity?) to look up. Jean had taken off his helmet. "Here." He secured it over the blonde's head. "For some peace of mind."

This was the first time Jean gave Armin a good look. His blue eyes were bright and expressive, his hair had been messed with by the wind but it still looked (and felt) soft, his form was small and could be completely hidden out of sight by Jean's if they tried. Everything about him made Jean's newfound protective instincts rise. Armin looked into the brunette's eyes in surprise at the sudden thoughtfulness. They both stared at each other, as if trying to figure the other out, but ended up just smiling.

"T-thank you."

"Should we continue?"

Nervousness took over the blonde's features, and Jean would have ruffled his hair if it hadn't been for the helmet.

"Yeah."

The motorcycle roared back to life and Armin instinctively hid his face and gripped onto Jean's shoulders again.

Jean drove considerable slower this time. He looked back for a second, and his heart was warmed by how vulnerable the boy looked. In that moment he hoped he was the only person who had ever or would ever see him like that.

"You should try looking up." He said once he turned back to the rode. Jean didn't think he would actually listen, but gingerly he felt the pressure against his back retreat. That was when he heard a gasp, not in fear but in awe. Slowly, he felt Armin lose tension and his arms lower until they found a more comfortable place around Jean's waist.

Armin let out a little laugh, enjoying the wind and the view and the sudden feeling of freedom. Unconsciously he pressed himself closer to the body in front of him and laid his chin on Jean's shoulder.

In that moment, neither of them had ever felt so close to someone.