Hey everyone, next chapter of these cuties for you, hope you enjoy it

As Jean towel dries his hair, preparing to pick Armin up to take him out for dinner, he realises that he can't even remember the last time he went out on a date with anyone. The last thing he can think of that could even be considered a date was when he had lunch with a guy named Austin from work and even that wasn't much. It's been so long Jean isn't sure he even knows what to do anymore. What should he say? How should he act?

Then he remembers that he's taking Armin out and he's probably heard everything there is to know from Krista and Ymir (especially if they found out about the two of them). A comforting but at the same time terrifying thought. He's known the both of them since he was a teenager and they know things about him that he'd rather Armin didn't find out yet if he has to find out about them at all.

So he tries not to worry too much and decides to just be himself, it's working quite well for him so far. It doesn't matter because he knows he'll probably say something daft and completely put Armin off anyway, if Ymir hasn't succeeded in doing that for him.

When he reaches Krista and Ymir's house he rings the bell and then immediately begins fiddling with his t-shirt, his jeans, his hair. He's nervous and it's obvious. He can't seem to get his nerves to relax and it gets even worse as he sees someone coming through the frosted glass. He slaps on his best pokerface and smiles as the door opens to reveal Krista.

"G'day Krista," he says.

"G'day Jean," she replies with a smirk. "What brings you here?" He's pretty sure she knows that he's here to see Armin but apparently she wants to make him sweat.

"I'm here to pick up Armin," Jean says. "I'm taking him out to dinner."

"Huh..." Kristaa says pretending to think this through, "I think he might have mentioned something about that..."

"What?"

Krista grins at the look of complete surprise on Jean's face. "Honey he hasn't been able to stop talking about you all day."

"What?" Jean asks again, unable to believe what he's just heard. Armin's been talking about me?

"Hey Armin," Krista calls over her shoulder, still smirking at Jean, "your date's here!"

Before Jean can properly process all of this Armin appears at Krista's shoulder and beams up at him. "'Right." It still sounds like a squeak but at least Jean can distinguish there's an actual word in there now.

"G'day," Jean says, grin already spreading across his face. As soon as Armin walks into Jean's line of sight everyone else melts away and it's as if they're the only two people in the entire world.

"Shall we go then?" Armin asks, breaking Jean out of his stupor.

"Sure," he says.

"See you later," Armin says to Krista, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

"Have fun you too," she grins, giving them a wave before disappearing inside.

"So," Armin says smiling up at Jean from under his lashes, "where are you takin' me?"

The restaurant is small and quaint and it's easy for Jean and Armin to talk without having to shout to be heard. The light cast from the candles on the table makes Armin's hair shine and Jean wants more than anything to run his fingers through it. It's probably just as soft as it looks and would feel amazing to touch but Jean keeps a hold of himself and occupies his thoughts with talking instead.

"So what's England like?" he asks.

"Wet," Armin replies.

"What?" Jean laughs.

"It rains a lot."

"Makes sense."

"It's nice though," Armin continues. "I used to live right out in the sticks near my friends and no one else."

"Sounds great."

"Yeah, I used to get up to a lot of mischief with my friend Eren," Armin says smiling, "'e used to get 'imself into all these scrapes and I always had to bail 'im out because, bless 'im, 'e's not the brightest bulb in the closet."

"Oh yeah?"

"Well there was this one time we were out in Farmer Hannes' yard, helpin' out with the chores and stuff. Eren was dickin' around and he got his noggin stuck in the chicken coop," Armin laughs.

"He what?" Jean asks He's ninety percent certain he knows what Armin means by 'noggin' but at the same time he's also ninety percent certain that no one could be that stupid.

"'e got 'is 'ead stuck in the chicken coop," Armin replies.

"Oh my god!" No apparently someone can be that stupid...

"We 'ad to grease 'im up to get 'im out," Armin giggles.

"Strewth."

"And stuff like that used to 'appen all the time when Eren were around and it were great!"

"Sounds like a hell of a mate," Jean says, absolutely spellbound by how Armin's eyes sparkle when he's excited.

"Yeah 'e is," Armin says wistfully. "So what about you?" he asks after a pause.

"Me?" Jean asks, surprised.

"Yeah I been talkin' about me, now I wanna know about you."

"Not much to tell really," Jean shrugs. "I've lived in Melbourne my whole life, I work at a gym as a personal trainer and I like to go surfing first thing in the morning."

"Oh come on, there must be more'n that," Armin presses.

"Not really," Jean replies. He's never realised just how boring he makes himself sound and he can feel his cheeks heating up under Armin's scrutiny.

"Well Krista told me that you used to get a guitar out on occasion," Armin says.

"I did yes," Jean admits.

"Why didn't you bring it along the other night?" Armin asks. "I'd like to 'ear you play sometime."

"Really?" Jean asks. He had been about to protest, say that he's not very good but the fact that Armin actually seems interested is too much of a shock to the system.

"Yeah," Armin smiles as his fingers brush Jean's where their hands are resting in the middle of the table.

Jean's heart all but stops as he looks from their hands where their fingers are starting to link. Holy shit this is actually happening! A smile begins to spread over his face and he can feel himself leaning forward, towards Armin and Armin leaning in as well. The distance is closing and Jean really wants to know what it would feel like to kiss those soft looking lips.

"Two orders of house steak; one rare, one medium," the waitress' chirpy voice says, breaking the moment.

Jean blinks for a second, suddenly remembering where they are. "Um yeah," he says. "Mines the rare one."

"Bonzer," the waitress says placing a plate in front of each of them. "Enjoy."

"Holy shit!" Armin marvels once she's gone. "This thing is the size of my face!"

"Told you you'd like this place," Jean laughs.

"I think I'd like anywhere you took me," Armin says smiling and it's as if Jean has been shot through the heart with one of Cupid's arrows. He can't quite believe this is happening because Armin actually seems to be interested in him. The way Armin is looking at him makes his heart skip and he really hopes that the next time he goes to kiss Armin they're not going to be interrupted because, holy hell, does he want to kiss him.

"And so then we 'ad to 'op out of 'is orchard pretty fast before we were caught, both of us with pockets filled with apples," Armin laughs as they walk up the path to Krista's front door together.

"Did you get in trouble?" Jean asks.

"Nah," Armin replies. "I mean we got caught cause we were, like, eight, and we got a bit of a tellin' off but it were fine. We just 'ad to do some chores 'round the farm and that were the worst of it."

"I bet you were a right tearaway when you were a kid," Jean laughs as they stop just on the porch.

"Lil bit," Armin grins. "So... I 'ad a really good time tonight."

"I did too," Jean says.

"Wanna do sommin' like this again?" Armin asks.

"Definitely," Jean says, hardly caring at how eager he sounds. "Would you like to come surfing with me tomorrow?"

Armin looks at him for a moment but then a huge smile spreads across his lips. "Yeah, I would."

"Bonzer," Jean grins. "So do you wanna meet down on the beach at half five?" It's a tall order and he knows it but at the same time he's too eager to not ask.

"Sounds great," Armin says.

"Goodnight then," Jean says.

"Night," Armin says.

Before Jean realises what he's doing he's closing the distance between the two of them. Armin's eyes slip closed as Jean gets closer. This is happening, this is actually happening, holy shit this is actually happening!

A second before their lips connect the door opens next to them and the two of them spring apart. Jean turns to see Krista smiling at them as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth and Jean can feel his cheeks turning scarlet.

"Evening guys, did you have a good night?" she asks.

"Yeah," Armin says smiling up at Jean, "it was great."

"Yeah," Jean agrees. There's a part of him that wonders if Krista interrupted them on purpose and as she looks at him there is a gleam in her eye that suggests he might be right. A second later, though, the look is gone and he thinks he must have been imagining it.

"We're goin' surfin' tomorrow mornin'," Armin says.

"Very nice," Krista says looking pointedly at Jean. Yeah, she totally opened the door on purpose.

"Well I'll see you tomorrow," Armin says and leans up on tip toes to press a quick kiss to Jean's cheek before he disappears inside and Jean's heart skips.

"See you tomorrow," he says dreamily.

"Close your mouth Jean," Krista laughs before disappearing inside herself.

Jean walks back to his car as if in a daze. Armin kissed him. Granted it was on the cheek but still. He waits until he's in the seclusion of his car before he lets out a loud whoop of delight. Holy shit this is actually happening!