Hey everyone! Hope you're all having a good week and I hope you enjoy this :D

Jean spent most of the evening casting glances in Armin's direction and occasionally he would even catch Armin looking back at him. When he returns home he lies awake thinking about it, tossing and turning as it all swirls around in his head over and over again. Ymir had been very vocal about how cute Armin is (and she was not wrong) and she had been cheeky enough to hint that Jean might need to get laid and that Armin was available. Even Marco had said that Armin was interested in him (although where he got that from Jean has no idea).

It has to mean something... doesn't it? There has to be a reason that they've been saying all of this. Ymir could easily just be trying to screw with him but Marco is his best friend and would never (intentionally) lead him astray. Or he could just be over thinking everything because of what Ymir and Marco said and Armin could have been looking at him to see if he had stopped staring like a creep.

By morning he's still going round and round in circles in his head and he has absolutely no idea what he's supposed to be thinking. So, like every instance when he's confused and needs to think, he grabs his board and heads down to the beach. Surfing will clear hid head and he knows he'll feel a lot better when he's been out on the waves for a hour or two thinking about nothing but finding the best waves to ride.

Judging by the sun he's been out for half an hour or so when he spots someone walking along the water's edge. He stares for a moment, positive that he recognises that mop of blond hair as the sun shines a golden crown against it. It takes him a moment but he quickly realises that it's Armin. He's not wasting the opportunity again and he can feel a wave brewing behind him so if he can pull this off he will look so fucking cool!

"Armin!" he calls as the wave crests and he stands up on his board, silhouetted against the horizon by the sun.

Armin turns at the sound of his name and watches, eyes filled with awe as he watches Jean ride the wave down to him. Jean's chest swells with pride and excitement as he sees just how enraptured Armin looks. He tries to reign his thoughts in – he could just be excited about the surfing but he can't help the skip of his heart when he thinks that the stars in Armin's eyes could be for him and only him.

He reaches the spray a few feet away from where Armin is standing and Armin runs over to him, a huge infectious grin on his face. Jean's heart hammers in his chest at the look on Armin's face (it could also be from the ride down but it's more Armin and he can't even begin to pretend otherwise).

"That were amazing Jean!" Armin cries, elated.

"Thanks," Jean grins rubbing the back of his neck. He can feel a heat that has nothing to do with the morning sun fanning over his ears. Thankfully Armin probably thinks it's from either the surfing or the sun.

"Come down here a lot?" Armin asks.

"Pardon?"

"Do you come down here to surf a lot?"

"Yeah almost every morning," Jean replies. "What are you doing down here?"

"Takin' a walk," Armin says, "but I didn't bring the right shoes with me." He holds up the pair of sand logged trainers he's been carrying. "They're all full of sand now."

"What you wanna do is get yourself a pair of thongs," Jean says, grinning.

"A pair o' what?" Armin asks looking confused.

"You know... thongs," Jean says again.

"Still don't know what you're talkin' about," Armin says. "I don't see how underwear is going to help."

"Underwear?" Jean asks.

"Especially ones that go up your bum."

"What?" Jean asks, staring in confusion before the penny finally drops. "Ah sorry... I mean like flip flops."

"Oh..." Armin says, elongating the word as the comprehension dawns on him. "Why didn't you say that in the first place?"

"Clearly I should have done," Jean laughs.

"So it was a good party last night, wasn't it?" Armin offers after a pause.

"Yeah, sorry we didn't get to yabber much but Ymir and Krista obviously wanted to introduce you to everyone," Jean says.

"Didn't get to what?" Armin asks, brows furrowing in confusion again.

"Sorry," Jean says shaking his head, "I mean talk."

"Right..."

"It must be strange getting used to the lingo," Jean says.

"I'm going to assume that means the way you folks talk 'round 'ere and yes it is," Armin replies.

"Sorry."

"It's fine," Armin smiles and waves him off and his smile is so beautiful that Jean can't help but stare at him in wonder. "I mean I'll get the hang of it eventually 'cause I'm not totally sure how long I'm stayin' for but it's probably gonna be a long time."

Jean has been too busy staring at Armin that he hasn't actually listened to a word he's said. "Sorry what?"

"Oh come on I know you must have understood that!" Armin groans but laughing all the same. "I'm even speaking slower just in case you're strugglin'."

Jean laughs. "I'm sorry, I did understand you I just wasn't listening." He has no idea what possessed him to actually tell Armin the truth but it's out of his mouth before he can stop it.

"Right..."

"I was too busy staring at your face," Jean says, unable to stop himself again.

Armin raises a hand to his cheek, eyes wide. "Is there somethin' on my face?" he asks, worried.

"No," Jean replies smiling at him.

"Then why you starin' at me?" Armin laughs.

And Jean has absolutely no idea what possess him to say what he does next. "Because I think you're probably the most beautiful person I've ever seen."

Armin's jaw drops and he stars up at Jean's in utter shock, the only sound being the gentle crashing of the waves behind them and the gulls overhead. "What did you say?"

It's at that moment Jean actually realises he did just say that, he didn't imagine it. He's already started so he might as well keep going. "I said you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen," he says again.

"Um... I..."

"Sorry," Jean says, his face reddening again as all the blood in his entire body rushes to his face. "I didn't mean to freak you out or anything, just forget I said anything." He turns away, too embarrassed to even look at Armin.

"Wait!" Armin cries and grabs Jean's elbow and he glances over his shoulder to see the most adorable blush on Armin's cheeks. "Sorry you just got me by surprise, is all."

"Sorry," Jean says. He feels a little stupid but he doesn't know what else to say.

"I'm not really use to the attention," Armin says. "Back home I'm sort of considered to be a bit of a weirdo."

"Really?" Jean finds that hard to believe considering how stunning Armin is but if he is a self proclaimed weirdo then maybe he doesn't get a lot of attention.

"Yeah so when you just come out and said it like that I was just shocked," Armin says.

"I can say it again if you like," Jean offers turning back to face Armin.

The blush on his cheeks deepens. "Please."

"You're beautiful," Jean says smiling.

"So are you," Armin says looking up at Jean shyly through his eyelashes and looking so very cute that Jean wants to hug him and never let go.

"Would you maybe want to go out with me sometime?" Jean asks feeling impulsive. Well it's now or never and I might not get another chance. "Like we could go for dinner."

Armin blinks at him, looking perplexed. "Sorry can you say that again?" he asks.

"Huh?" Maybe he didn't hear me? Maybe he wants to say no and that's the most polite way he can think of? Maybe... While Jean's thinking himself into a hole Armin laughs.

"I'm teasing' you," he says.

"Oh..."

"I'd love to go to dinner," Armin says.

"A huge, daft grin splits Jean's face. "Great, how about tonight then?"

"Tonight would be amazin'."