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#snk fluff
suukee · 2 days
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other half 彡 levi ackerman
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» summary ⋆ levi doesn’t exactly notice it, but one of his love languages is physical touch. (how he acts when he’s in love)
» content ⋆ levi ackerman x reader. fluff, hurt/comfort. mentions character deaths. written with season four, special two in mind.
» word count ⋆ 1070
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Levi doesn’t exactly notice it, but one of his love languages is physical touch.
That’s because, growing up, he lost everyone he treasured.
His mother passed away when he was nothing more than a living skeleton, too young to live on his own. The last memory he recalls is laying his head down on her lap and her feather-like touch. Her fingers were gentle as they ran through his hair. Sometimes it had grown so long to the point where she’d braid them.
The man who found Levi, rotting beside the corpse of his mother, raised him as though he was a caretaker, but not like a father. It’s vague in Levi’s older years, but he remembers the head pats and the hair ruffling. The man was overall careless and strong, but he had soft moments where he’d praise Levi. And just out of the blue, the mystery man abandoned him. Years later, when it was revealed that this man was his uncle all along, he had died in the next moment.
Then there was Furlan and Isabel, the only two people he had considered his family in his adult years Underground. Isabel was a girl with no personal space for the people she cared for. For as long as she could remember, she loved hugs. And while Levi was stiff and complaint about it, she’d do it again and again. Pats on the shoulder from Furlan were enough of a relief to know he was there. Yet, they soon left, devoured on their first expedition outside the walls.
Levi’s very first squad respected his space, unlike Isabel. Even so, they meant something to him. He’d only seen the aftermath of their lives. He doesn’t have much of a physical memory from them. He carries the weight of being unable to protect them as they always would for him.
Then came the commander—both of them. The people he grew to appreciate. He wouldn’t dare to admit out loud they had become his friends. The two strong leaders made a great sacrifice for the sake of humanity. It was heavy. Like the death of his squad, he added that weight to the list. He could feel the hands of Erwin and Hange on his shoulders urging him on.
They’re all gone. Bittersweet memories. Repeating nightmares taunt him just when he thinks he’s got it wrapped around his head.
Through such hardships, he’s gifted with you. The war hasn’t come to an end, not yet, but you’re the only person he knows who survived countless battles from the very beginning.
You have become the only person in the entire world to whom he will cry, vent, and lean toward when he needs to. Whenever he wants to.
His comfort is his best friend. His lover. His partner in crime. That’s always going to be you.
Anyone who catches him holding your hand or kissing your cheek may find it strange. He doesn’t want to be touched by anyone, let alone touch someone himself. He’s a damn intimidating man. One look is all he needs to drive people away. And while it took some time to get to the point where he could freely be himself, the thought that he doesn’t deserve you still gnaws at him.
You treat him like a living person, not as Humanities Strongest. You went through hell and back just to get to know him, to understand him—why he acts and feels the way he does. You’ve changed him into a better man, and you’ve accepted his flaws. Your devotion and love are so innocent and pure, he knows you’d do it all over again. Just for him.
He didn’t make it easy to break down his walls. His guard was exhaustingly high. He tried to push you away in case of the day he loses you, then it wouldn’t hurt so much. But as his calloused hands find their place on the soft skin of your cheeks, eyes shining of love, giggles echoing in his ears, he doesn’t look back. You’re the one he wants to protect. Lay his life down for. A reason to look ahead.
Sometimes, you’re too busy laughing to notice he smiles when you’re this close. But you know he’s content despite how rarely he smiles.
At meetings or meals, he’ll sit across from you. There are times when he rests the tip of his boot atop yours lightly. It’s just his way of keeping in contact with you. If he decides to sit next to you, he’ll be close enough that your knees press against his gently. It did take him some time to kiss you, but he was uneasy about public displays of affection. On his own, and with your patience, he comes to terms with holding your finger or keeping a grip around your waist whenever you’re out together.
He’s a different man in private. He holds you so close, hugging you tightly like you’ll disappear if he lets go. He loves it when you come to the office late at night, settling yourself on his lap as he completes his work—writing with one hand and holding you against him with the other (he complains someone will see and that you should be getting rest, but makes no effort to get you off). When exhaustion kicks in, Levi loves to rest his head on your shoulder, keeping a hand on your thigh and gently caressing the fabric of your pants or, even better, your skin. His body weight is all on you when he’s knocked out cuddling, not that you’ve ever complained about it. Not that you ever will.
Who would’ve guessed the stoic captain had such a soft side?
Nighttime is the worst. A swarm of nightmares disturb his rest. That’s when he becomes desperate for your touch. Your chest and your lap, that’s his new favorite pillow. Your fingers playing with his hair, his undercut, or rubbing his upper back boosts his melatonin. Your arms are the safest place in such an unforgiving world. You’re a calming piece of his life he doesn’t dare to lose.
He can’t.
Even though the war isn’t over, and there’s no time to spend together, it’s your presence that aids him for a while. Even if he can’t see with his eye properly, he relies on touch. Just your hand, and he’s good.
Who would he be without you? He doesn’t want to know.
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wait, does that mean Zeke represents the apple? the exchange they made was the power Zeke could give?
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lowkeyremi · 3 months
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adding to this post!
Post-war Levi has no clue what to do when it gets too quiet. All his life he's been used to loud noises, laughing, screaming, crying, any and everything.
So when there's complete silence he gets caught up in his thoughts. You bring him over a mug of tea, and join him on the couch. "What's on your brain, Honey?"
He hesitates for a second, but he knows he can tell you anything, so he takes in a deep breath, "Sometimes I wonder what Isabel and Furlan would pursue if they had... had survived." He says quietly staring off into space. You grab his hand giving it a small squeeze. At first you were intimidated by his missing fingers but it doesn't bother you anymore.
"According to what you've told me about Isabel I think she would have been veterinarian or something of the sorts, I'm not sure about Furlan though."
Levi almost swallows the words back down but he allows them to be said, he can finally admit them, "I miss them, sometimes."
"That's completely normal, Levi. They were your family."
"You're my family now. You're also not allowed to die before me. I don't know what I'll do when I'm completely engulfed by the silence." He murmurs quietly to you.
"I can't make any promises, but as long as I live, I'll make sure the silence never takes you." You tell him and this time he squeezes your hand, his dark eye stares into yours and you see a trusting smile take over his face.
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celesteleoves · 9 months
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“DIMPLES ARE SO CUTE!”
ೃ࿐ EREN YEAGER X FEM!READER
summary: eren only shows his dimples around you.
warnings: eren has dimples, fluff, mentions of spicey things (girls teasing girls ykyk), erens very stoic around people he’s not close with.
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“can you imagine jean having dimples, mikasa? i mean that would boost his ego too much.” annie laughed as you all sat around armins house.
your friend group had decided to have one big hangout! currently, the girls were sitting in the basement catching up on gossip while the boys went out to get stuff for a barbecue later.
“he still looks insanely good annie, can YOU imagine your boyfriend having dimples?” mikasa retorted back as the rest of us girls laughed.
“at least he’s good in bed-”
“hey, y/n, you like guys with dimples right?” sasha questioned as she downed a can of root beer.
“who doesn’t? dimples are so cute!” you said as the girls agreed.
“historia loves me and my freckles, dimples ain’t got nothing on us.” ymir pulled historia to her chest who only giggled and nodded.
you smiled at the two, they were so cute it drove you nuts. but at the moment, you remembered something about your crush and a feature you noticed about him.
“wait, eren has dimples guys!” you said with a smile on your face like you’d just solve the biggest mystery on earth.
the girls narrowed their eyes at you and then turned their attention to mikasa, who was a bit confused as well.
“don’t look at me, i can’t remember ever noticing eren having dimples. you sure y/n?”
“i swear, just wait till he gets back and look closely! you can see them.”
“she’s so in love she’s imaging eren with her favourite features a guy can have.” historia mocked and you rolled your eyes.
“i swear by it.”
mikasa laughed at your words as the girls listened closely to this newfound information.
“sure you do, i’ve known eren my whole life and i dont ever really see any prominent dimples on his face.”
“mika, let’s also remember she’s heavily obsessed with him. of course she noticed these things.” sasha joined in on the teasing as you groaned.
“fine, maybe you guys are right about the dim-”
“right about what?” jean asked as he, armin, and connie walked into the room with drinks and snacks.
“it’s girl talk, jean.” armin said while putting stuff down on a near coffee table before taking a seat on the couch annie sat at.
“well let me in on it!” jean pestered mikasa as he also joined her on the couch also.
“sasha! of course you ate my favourite chips bro.” connie whined as he noticed the chip bag he brought was in her hands and was now devoured by Sasha’s uncontrollable need for food.
“shut up connie!”
“anyways, we were talking about how y/n says she believes eren has dimples.” historia brought the conversation back and now everyone was listening intently.
“that mean bastard? doubt he could have something as attractive as dimples on his cold, ugly face.” jean said as he emphasized the last few words in a mocking way while mikasa slapped his arm.
armin paused and thought about it before speaking. “actually, he might. i think i almost saw his dimples once but he turned away from me, so i couldn’t see them.”
“see!” you smiled in victory and stood up to grab a coke can but before you could, a hand swooped and grab it right out of your reach. the person raised it above their head.
“don’t mind me, i’m really in the mood for some coke.” the person you guys had been talking about for a while finally arrived, eren.
and god damn, he looked too good even though you saw him thirty minutes ago. somehow, he manages to just get more attractive in your eyes day by day.
“eren, i was gonna have that actually so hand it over.” you smiled and reached to grab it, the visible height difference between you two causing troubles.
your friends went silent as they watched you bicker with each other. they had all been rooting for you two to get together, for a while now. you had easily fallen for him, what you didn’t know as of right know is that he fell harder.
although, one thing that made the whole groups jaws drop was the prominent dimples that appeared through eren’s smile as he looked down at you, his green eyes seeming brighter as he teased you and laughed.
“no fucking way.” annie whispered and nudged armin who only stared at the two with a smile on his face.
“shit man, turns out he does have something as cool as dimples on his face.” jean sighed and leaned into mikasa’s shoulder who only let out a chuckle at that.
truth is, mikasa knew eren had dimples. but, she only saw them when eren was around you or when he talked about you with a smile on his face.
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a/n: heyyy, so i’m back with the aot oneshots too! im in a aot brainrot bc of the trailer and how sad i am that aot is going to be ending soon :( anyways, hope you enjoyed!
please message me if u have any concerns, suggestions, or a specific aot or mha work in mind that you would like me to write!
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yoongikapi · 1 month
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nights with him || levi || oneshot
fluff
aot masterlist
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late at night, long after the sun has set was always your favorite time of day. after all the paperwork, after a long, tiring day of expeditions and strategic talk, you loved to just unwind with your boyfriend. of course being humanity’s strongest comes with a lot of responsibilities. he’s away longer, has more paperwork, and as a result you don’t get to see him as much as you’d like. but at the end of the day after all the work, he always comes home to you. just like now.
you wrap your arms around him as the front door closes; the cold air from outside still whirling around the entryway. he wraps an arm around your waist while the other hangs his cloak on the hook. he smiles at you and you’re grateful he’s home safe.
after eating and showering, he joins you in bed. both sets of hands go to their designated spots. his grab around your waist and pull you close, yours cup his face; thumb stroking his cheek. this is your favorite part of your nights. watching and holding him close; holding him like he’d never go anywhere again. you were so proud and thankful for this man and by looking into his eyes you could tell he thought the same about you.
smiling, you ask him to tell you about his day and he does. you start to doze to his sweet voice, and cuddle up closer to his chest,
“your voice is making me fall asleep” you sigh.
“are you saying i’m boring you, brat?”
you chuckle, “no i’m saying i feel safe with you”
he shifts and pulls you on top of his chest, reaching an arm under your shirt and scratching your back. he doesn’t respond, but he places kisses on top of your head and tightly hugs you, knowing he doesn’t want to let you go.
<3
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leviismybby · 5 months
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Do you ever just think about waking up in the morning next to Levi? Seeing him when your eyes open, laying next to you shirtless, his lower half covered with the sheet, his messy bed hair, his eyes closed. He looks so peaceful and relaxed. You reach out to gently run your hand up and down his arm, feeling the scars on his skin under your fingertips. Levi's eyes flatter open, he hums lightly. "Morning." And oh my his morning voice is something that instantly sends a shiver down your spine. "Good morning." You smile as he pulls you closer, kissing you on the lips softly.
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jeankirsteinsgrlfrnd · 5 months
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boyfriend jean kirstein headcanons
- a ginormous pain in the ass. everywhere you go, he’s there. he makes it hard to get things done.
- will ALWAYS hold the door for you and will get offended if you try to open the door for him
- was really excited to have you meet his mama. even more thrilled when she LOVED you
- he’ll complain about how long you take to get ready but secretly love watching you do it and tells you how pretty you are after
- insists on cooking for you (he’s a good cook!!) but loves when you cook for him just the same
- when it snows, he’ll pelt you with snow balls and then kiss your rosy cheeks to cheer you up
- HOWEVER, if you win (at anything for this matter), he’ll say “calm down babe it’s just a game”
- loves that he’s so much taller and bigger than you, he loves when you look up at him, it makes him feel like your protector
- need your tank filled up? he’s whipping his wallet out. nails? he’s got you. hair? don’t even think about paying. he loves to spend all his money on you because you’re ‘his girlfriend and he would fall apart if you spent a single dime when he can very easily pay for it’
- always lets you sleep in because you look ‘damn cute’
- always blabbering in his sleep about utter nonsense
- most importantly, you’re his entire world. nothing else matters, hell, nothing else even exists.
my fellow jean girlies find my new story right here. A slow burn fanfic!!
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killerskillercaptain · 5 months
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How you knew Levi Ackerman fancied you Headcanons
You weren't necessarily a great beauty but he'd stutter when he'd speak to you.
He'd engage in a casual conversation with you more than others, and you know Levi hates small talk.
You would catch him glancing at you from the dinner table at festivities.
He'd always get informations about your position during the expeditions outside the walls.
You can see him frown when you're chatting with other male comrads and even young male cadets.
He'd always compliment your dress when you attend formal balls and ceremonies.
He'd offer to dance with you during those formal ceremonies even though he would frown during the whole thing.
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seeingivy · 3 days
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sweet nothing
actor!eren x f!reader
**part of my method acting fic
previous part linked here
songs mentioned: minor mentions of slut by taylor swift, new year's day by taylor swift, end of beginning by djo, turning page by sleeping at last, sweet nothing by taylor swift, and must be love by laufey
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It feels like every new piece of information that comes your way is overwhelming as the weeks fly by. And really, that sinking feeling that things are coming to an end only feels deeper, more final as the days dwindle down to the end. 
Jean and Mikasa are getting married in two days. Your last day of filming together as a cast is in three. Lana and Sukuna are having another kid and you’re almost positive that Eren is in love with you. 
You have two weeks together before you part ways. 
Every second that the group of you spent together felt like the moments were only slipping out of your fingers, like you were hopelessly trying to hold onto a needle in a stack of hay. It was almost impulsive the way you were trying to linger around everyone – to memorize every last detail of the memories so that you can’t forget them when they leave. 
Falco and Gabi eat cereal in the morning before they go to set, Levi has a mole near his left eye, Eren loses all of his guitar picks. 
You shuffle through the stack of polaroids in your hand – an endless stack of pictures of Miaksa and Jean – and get more frustrated looking down at the empty page on your notebook. Eren’s handwriting is perfectly lined up at the top, light scribbles of lyrics and words he’s changed for the song you were gifting Jean. 
I spy with my little tired eye Tiny as a firefly A pebble that we picked up last July Down deep inside your pocket We almost forgot it Does it ever miss Wicklow sometimes?
Eren explained that Jean and Mikasa, after getting engaged (for the second time), took a two month trip where they just traveled together. Most of the pictures are from that time period actually – of Jean and Mikasa drunk in random bars, cheesing in front of billowing green hills, or napping on picnic blankets. 
You look up at the two of them, clearly relieving some wedding stress by getting tipsy, and dancing with Falco and Gabi a few feet away. You can’t help but smile as Mikasa teaches Falco how to dance – and how he profusely apologizes every time he steps on her feet. It’s almost as sweet as Gabi and Jean who are trying to do the most aggressive slow dance known to man and that neither of them seem to be taking seriously in the slightest. 
“Who’s getting injured first?” 
You look to your right to find Eren hovering over your shoulder, his hair damp from the shower and the sweet smell of his soap still emanating off of his skin. He gives you a boyish grin before taking the seat next to you on the couch, leaning his chin on your shoulder as you watch the group of them. 
“I’m sure Mikasa needs a bandaid already. Falco has stepped on her feet ten times already.” 
“Poor guy. I’ve never seen him stress out over something so bad.” Eren states. 
“What do you mean?” 
Eren laughs. 
“He’s freaking out about the wedding. He’s really worried that Gabi won’t enjoy it with him as her date – because he can’t dance and that sometimes he can’t think of things to talk about when he gets nervous.” 
You frown. 
“Baby.” 
“Tell me about it. Last night he was in my room asking my opinions on pick up lines and how you even initiate dancing with someone.” Eren states. 
“What did you tell him?” 
“I told him that he should suggest getting matching tattoos. I know girls love that type of thing.” 
You turn your head to glare at him. 
“I know you didn’t encourage my sixteen year old brother to get a tattoo.” 
Eren shrugs. 
“What��s the difference between sixteen and eighteen? He’s a big kid.” 
“He would get a tattoo of a cat jumping on a trampoline if he could. And that’s horrible advice.” 
Eren grins. 
“Worked on you, didn’t it?” 
You shove him in the side, earning you a laugh from him, as he takes the opportunity to peek down at the page – mainly at the fact that you haven't been able to write anything. You sink back into the couch as he offers you a smile, before flipping through the rest of the pages. 
“I have a question.” 
“What is it?”
“Are you ever going to release any of these songs? I really think some of them are great.” 
You lean over his shoulder to follow his line of vision, to all of the songs that you had produced out of the requests that you had been given. You eye the song he’s fixated on – called Slut, that you wrote for Sasha – as you shrug. 
“I do really like some of them.” you offer. 
“I really love this one. I think it’s perfect. And a lot of them are.” Eren adds. 
You lean back on the couch. 
“I know that…things are ending. And I have to think seriously about what I want to do after I leave here but sometimes it gets complicated when I think about it. But I am sure that...that I'll do something. In some capacity.” you state. 
Eren leans back to join you, leaning his damp locks against your shoulder. You mimic his motions, leaning your cheek against his hair and welcoming the cold touch.
“I like being here and…and being here makes the songs and the acting really easy. I feel like I have that support system, of people who care about me, who can kind of help me push through it. The thought of having to figure out things without people helping me when I leave here and…and not having that makes it seem impossible.” you state. 
“You don’t need other people to –” 
“I know I don’t need other people to do this, that I can write songs and act if I need to. But, I need them for me. I’ve spent a lot of time alone and I realized I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to be here forever, I’ve…I feel like I barely appreciated the time I had here and now it’s almost over and I can’t do anything about it.” 
It’s horrible timing. That the song in Connie’s playlist switches. 
There's glitter on the floor after the party Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby Candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor You and me from the night before, but 
You both sink deeper into the couch, cheeks pink as the song stops the conversation in full. You can feel that the group of them are all averting their eyes to where you and Eren are sitting, though none of them seem to comment on the fact that your love ballad is booming from the speakers. You turn to Eren and offer him a smile, one that he returns before nervously fiddling with his hair. 
“You still have time left here. You can make the most of it. And even after we leave here, we’re all still backing you up. It might not be all of us all in the same place but…but we’re here when you need us.” Eren states. 
“Yeah. I know that. But it’s just different.”
You pause, unable to put the garbled mess of feelings that’s rumbling in your chest into words. 
Three days ago Levi told you that they were going to put the house up for sale when you were leaving – and the thought of never being able to come back here, that someone else would be sleeping in your room and you’d never be able to return to it made you sick to your stomach. 
You had read the last bits of the script and it was perfect – except for the blank portions that Levi left in one of the sections. He had mentioned that he wanted you and Eren to do something similar to what you were going to do for the “what am I to you scene?” where he was going to ask you to improv whatever he had planned. 
There was a sense of urgency when he mentioned it, because that was actually going to end up being the last scene that you ever filmed. Because Mikasa and Jean were going to get married on Friday, the last day of filming with the entire ensemble was Saturday, and they were all out of there by Sunday night. 
And for the entire week that followed, you, Levi, Hange, and Eren were going to be in the house alone. Hange mentioned it as a sort of gift that Levi wanted to give you – that he wanted to grant the two of you time alone before you parted your separate ways. 
(Apparently he was just sentimental. Or projecting, according to Hange. And part of it was just that he understood because when he had his last weekend of filming La La Land with Hange, he just wanted them all to himself before he had to let them go. That he wanted that for you and Eren or just for himself instead.) 
The thought of being alone with Eren in the house, the way you were when you started filming all those years ago, made your stomach churn with anticipation. Only because you knew – that if something was going to blossom between you and Eren, if you were able to let go of whatever it was that was holding either of you back – it was going to be then. 
Or at the wedding. 
You had visited the venue with Eren a few days prior and the outdoor, woodsy venue that Jean and Mikasa had picked out was eerily similar to where Levi and Hange had their vow renewal. They were leaning into the same energy – of a backyard wedding, with all of their closest friends – and you were half convinced that the setting alone would have you word vomiting everything to Eren. 
Don't read the last page But I stay when it's hard, or it's wrong, or we're making mistakes I want your midnights But I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day 
Eren reaches forward, placing his hand on top of your head, before he slightly rattles your head. 
“Okay, that’s enough being emo for today. Quit being sad and focus on writing the song. Jean is expecting something really great, you know?” 
You groan. 
“Don’t tell me that. I hyped it up so much to him just because he was being annoying but I’m really scared that he won’t like it. Every lyric I write is so ridiculously idiotic that I end up wanting to throw my entire book away.” 
“You’re trying too hard. Just do what feels natural.” 
You’re not sure why the thought crosses your mind, but right after it does it fills you with a bout of embarrassment. Because if you did what was natural, you’d lean forward and close the space between the two of you, only because you couldn’t help but feel like you were getting intoxicated by how much you wanted him every time you were alone like this. 
But that was just the thing. You weren’t alone. There were at least seven different people in the room. And the fact that it felt so intimate, so bare every time you talked to him like you were the only two people in the room made it impossible to be around him. 
Levi walks into the room with Hange, the two of them juggling cardboard boxes in their hands. Levi nearly drops all of them when Gabi and Jean almost salsa dance straight into him, but luckily enough, Niccolo is able to steer them in a different direction before they can. 
Hange and Levi set the boxes down at the center table, before gesturing for all of you to join them around the table. Eren holds a hand out to you – and it makes your stomach churn when he doesn’t let go as you both walk all the way to the table. 
You can’t help but focus on it. That you’re all circled around the table, that Niccolo is handing Sasha his water bottle, that Falco and Gabi are out of breath, and that Eren has his hand tucked into yours as he intently waits for Levi and Hange to explain. 
“As you guys all know, we’re going to be giving up the house in around a week. I know it feels a little early, but we need to start making preparations since things are going to start wrapping up really fast.” Levi states. 
“And this part is only logical. You guys were the ones who put the polaroids up. It’s only fair that you’re the ones who are going to take them down.” Hange adds. 
You feel your throat dry. 
“What?” Armin asks.  
“We can’t exactly leave them all up. Imagine how horrifying that would be for whoever moved in here after – just thousands of pictures of strangers that they didn’t know.” Levi states. 
“They would be so lucky. We’re literally famous.” Connie huffs. 
“Okay, Connie. Relax. Even then, I figured that you guys would want to keep some as you guys got ready to leave here. We can toss whatever it is you don’t want to keep.” Hange resopnds. 
It just keeps getting worse. You can’t even stomach the fact that they would even consider throwing any of the pictures away, let alone being so ready to pull them all off of their respective spots on the wall. 
“Are you insane? You can’t just throw our childhood away.” Reiner states. 
“Well, you can keep all of the stragglers. Drown in the polaroids in your penthouse apartment, Reiner.” Levi deadpans. 
“Oh, I plan on it.” Reiner responds, glaring at the two of them. 
You can tell that Levi and Hange were well prepared for the pushback. And you understand the frustrations, or at least the panic, everyone seems to be expressing. Armin’s trying to delay whatever this is to the best of his abilities – saying that the wedding pictures would be perfect with all of the polaroids in the background. Reiner said that taking everything down was only fair when Eren got to be a part of the death wall, and Sasha and Mikasa are already fighting over how they’re supposed to divvy up polaroids that we’re all in. 
And you get it, but all it does is fill you with the sinking pit of despair. 
This was the start. Taking all of the pictures down, wrapping your childhood into a little cardboard box and never returning to it again – at least not in the same way. 
The song from the playlist switches, finally mellowing out the ends of your voice, before changing to a different song. 
Levi’s ears immediately perk up at the sound of his own voice, booming through the speakers. 
Just one more tear to cry One teardrop from my eye You better save it for The middle of the night
When things aren't black and white Enter, Troubadour Remember twenty-four?
And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it Another version of me, I was in it I wave goodbye to the end of beginning
“Who is playing this?” Levi asks. 
“Connie.” Eren offers. 
Levi shakes his head, almost like it’s thrown him a distraction, before he hands each of you the boxes and a marker. You all start begrudgingly inking your name into the cardboard, before halfheartedly clutching it to your chests. A few of them make the first move, until it’s just you and Armin left lingering in the kitchen, unable to move. 
“Jesus fuck, Hange. Why would he play this song?” Levi whispers, stuck in a conversation under his breath with Hange. 
“The timing is uncanny. Don’t go crying on them now.” Hange states. 
The two of them shuffle out of the room as you turn to Armin, noting the warm tears that are filling his eyes, as you offer him one of your hands. He opts to link his hand through yours, as you both task yourself with walking over to the fridge first, as you stare at all six of the polaroids stuck under the magnet. 
“I really don’t want to do this.” Armin whispers. 
“Me neither.” 
He snags the first polaroid off of the fridge, of Erwin wearing a sparkly pink apron with Kiss the Chef embroidered into the front pocket. You distinctly remember when Eren had gifted it to Erwin for his birthday – and how he refused to stand in the kitchen without wearing it, even if he wasn’t cooking anything. 
“This picture doesn’t belong anywhere but here.” Armin states. 
You snort. You can see that Armin hesitates, but he settles for putting it in the box. 
“We’ll make a pile on the main table, of who is in each picture. Then…then people can fight it out for who gets to keep which one.” 
“Good idea.” 
It’s quiet, leave for Levi’s voice booming through the speakers, as you and Armin start yanking the pictures off of the wall. The wallpaper has been fading for years, but it’s only more obvious when you start ripping the pictures out to see the brighter color that was covered underneath. 
Armin stops you every few seconds, only to pull on your arm to show you a picture. It’s quiet smiles that you give each other, when you find one of him and Annie, or he gives you one of Hange, and it makes it the slightest bit easier. 
But some of the memories hit you like a bullet train, only because you can’t fathom how much of them you’ve actually forgotten. You only remembered that Falco and Colt had actually been to set before, years before they were even on the show, when Eren flew them out to surprise you for your birthday. Or that on that same day, Mikasa and Armin were the ones to gift you the first notebook that you had ever scribbled your lyrics in. 
They were so deeply intertwined in the memories – every single one. You suppose that’s probably why it was the hardest to let go, to walk away from all of them and limit them to just being pictures in a box. 
And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it Another version of me, I was in it I wave goodbye to the end of beginning (Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
“Armin.” 
“Yeah?” 
“Do you ever think about that night? In Seattle?” you ask. 
He pauses, abandoning the polaroid fixed in his fingers – of you and Historia cheek to cheek – as he sinks against the wall and sits on the floor. You join him on the ground, looping in your arm through his, as you lean your head against his shoulder. 
“Sometimes.” 
“Me too.” 
“I try to pinpoint moments where it feels like things changed. And there are lots of them, but I do find myself always going back to that one. Things felt so weird and out of line in the months before that, I felt like we were all moving in different directions, and that really solidified it.” Armin states. 
You pause. 
“Yeah, yeah I agree. Sometimes I wish I could go back and change things. But I also don’t.” 
“What do you mean?” Armin asks. 
“My first instinct when Eren and I started fighting was to ask him to tell the truth, to come with us and that we’d fix everything. Knowing what I know now, I wish that I had fought harder – that I trusted my gut more because I could clearly feel that something was wrong. But I also don’t, because sometimes I think the way things played out is how it needed to be, for me to feel how I am right now.” you state. 
“How do you feel now?” 
You pause. 
“I remember when we took Connie home with us and…and he started screaming at us. I felt really hopeless. I feel like watching him act like that, to be struggling so much, really sank me into that pit I was in. But I guess, I don’t know. Maybe I needed to see that and how he is now, to see how Sukuna was and how he is now, and Lana too to know that maybe there’s some way out of it for me too after I leave here.” you state. 
Armin smiles. 
“I’m really happy for Lana and Sukuna.” 
You grin. 
“I’m really happy for Connie too. And Eren and…and us too. So much has happened that I really can't even wrap my mind around everything that has happened, but sometimes all I’m left with is that I feel really grateful that we’re all here right now. Especially you and me. Sometimes I forget that you and I faced the worst of it together and…and that we’re here right now, the way that we are, just kind of…fixes it all in my mind.” 
“I agree. I feel like we saw the worst of it together, maybe acted at our worst together too, but it makes me feel better that we both came out of it the way that we did. I feel like we never learn and even though we burn bridges, we still ended up doing what was right at the end of the day.” Armin adds. 
Armin smiles, as he pushes up off the ground and holds out his hand to you. He pulls you up, averting his eyes to behind you, before you turn to find Annie and Eren standing behind. He gives you a knowing look before he switches places with Eren – and the two of them stalk off together. 
Eren gives you a smile, before aggressively sticking a polaroid in your face. You’re caught off guard by the suddenness, before you focus on the picture. It’s of you and Eren on the last day of filming Season Three – your arms wrapped around his neck as you both smile in the camera. 
“Yours or mine?” he asks. 
“Mine.” 
“Well, you should get a move on. I’ve already stolen whatever pictures there were on the wall near the bay window.” 
“No debate? No negotiating?” you ask. 
“Absolutely not. You snooze, you lose.” 
You and Eren fall into a quiet pace, the same way you were with Armin. It seems like it’s something everyone was adapting, because the house felt quieter as usual as you all pulled the memories off of the walls. 
He’d stop here and there and place a polaroid into the palm of your hand. It was getting almost overwhelmingly nostalgic, making that melancholy that seemed to reside in your chest almost impossible to breathe through. 
It was like watching yourself fall in love with Eren all over again.
Because all you can think about is the fact that you had really liked Eren at that award’s show, that you went on a date before that press event, that filming that scene was really fun because you had spent the entire day together. 
That you used to sleep in the same bed every night, that you made breakfast together every morning, that the safe confines of this little wooden house was the place that you and Eren got to be yourselves, where your love was saved from being touched and garbled by other people. 
“Eren.” 
“Yeah?” 
“What are you going to do with the pictures?” you ask. 
Eren pauses, eyeing the messy mess of pictures in his box, before he looks back up at you. 
“I’m staying at this place by the sea, in Ireland, for a few months after the show ends. It’s my parent’s cabin, but I just want to go there and take a break before I jump into anything again. I’ll put some of the pictures up there.” he states. 
You nod. 
You’re not sure why you ask the question, and it’s almost instant embarrassment when it comes out, but you have to stick with it after you do. 
“Will you tell other girls about who I am?” 
“What?” 
You bite your tongue. 
“I just mean. If people point to the pictures and stuff, you’ll tell them about us, right? All the pretty girls you’re going to take to your fancy cabin?” you joke. 
Eren seems to visibly relax when he figures that this has to be some weird idea of a joke that you’re making. 
“Oh. Yeah, of course. Trust me, when I take my children to that cabin, I’ll make sure they know the entire story before they leave.” 
You smile. 
“And what’s that?” 
“Oh, you know. That it was a moment in time, what you and I had. That people went crazy for it, that…that you and I did too.” Eren states. 
“Who said I went crazy for it?” 
Eren rolls his eyes. 
“You have not one, but two matching tattoos with me. We’ve written so many songs about each other, that people still listen to.” 
“I was just teasing. Relax.” 
Eren hands you a polaroid – a solo picture that he had taken of you at Hange and Levi’s vow renewal – that you tuck into your box. The walls are bare and empty as you peek your head through the other rooms. And you all group back together in the main room, boxes filled on the ground as you find too many of them locking their limbs together and swaying together in the air. 
You and Eren smile at each other as Reiner catches sight of you and makes a dramatic display of wrapping both of his arms around you. Jean and Mikasa follow next – somehow producing shots for everyone out of thin air. 
The only notable thing that stands out is that Connie’s standing by the far wall, stuck staring at the wallpaper. Normally, you’d expect him to be at the center of this, making some extreme, dramatic speech on top of the table about how we were all going down in history. 
You tangle out of Mikasa’s embrace to walk up next to him, only to feel your stomach churn when you find exactly what it is that Connie’s staring at. Because it’s not a blank patch of wallpaper – but instead, his shitty spelling marked into the wall, accompanied by the one polaroid you had seemingly forgotten all about. 
Of Marco, his tub of ice cream, and his bright smile when you had all inducted him as the start of the death wall. You look to your left to find Connie crying, as you lean your head against his shoulder, unable to stop your own. 
“I can’t take it down. He…he’s going to miss the wedding.” he whispers. 
It makes your stomach ache. That Marco won’t be there to see Jean and Mikasa get married, that he won't be at the wrap party, and that someone will have to come over here and rip him off of the wall for good. 
“I can’t do it either.” 
Eren’s the next to join the two of you, his arms warm around your shoulders, before you feel him physically tense at your side when he realizes. The crowd only seems to get bigger, until the entire group of you are standing there, limbs tangled in together as you all stare at the picture of him.
Levi and Hange, who are the last to join, are the first to break the silence. 
“No one can do it, can they?” Hange asks. 
You all shake your heads. Levi makes his way to the front – and you can’t help but study him as you watch him observe the picture. 
It was no secret to you that Levi had a soft spot for Marco, that it only intensified after he died, and that it was something that Levi was going to beat himself over forever.
You think about it often – that one time that Levi insinuated that what happened could be traced back to him, because Marco’s fame could be traced back to when Levi had cast him in the show. That if Levi didn't make Marco famous, the paparazzi would have called the ambulance instead of prioritizing the photo.
When he reaches for the picture, you realize that you can’t let him do it alone. 
You walk up to his side and pull on his arm. 
“Together.” you state. 
Levi gives you wide eyes, heaving a deep sign out, before he nods. You turn back to the crowd of them standing, as you gesture for them to join. 
You all place your hands on each other, making it literally impossible for you to all stand there as you try to jump and duck under each other to secure your hands on the picture. It’s all giggles because Connie asks Reiner not to touch his butt and they start bickering before you all pull. 
But on the count of three, you all pull it off of the wallpaper, before letting go. It’s left in Levi’s hands at the end of it. 
You all let him keep it. He shoots you a grateful smile for the assistance.
--
The air is palpable the morning of the wedding. You can feel it thrumming under your skin – the anticipation – the second you spring your eyes open. It reminded you of how you used to sleep the night before a field trip, unable to contain your excitement to the point where you were unable to quiet your mind before sleeping. 
You nearly shoot up because of it, unable to stop staring at Mikasa at your side. Her hair is tousled around the pillow, the sleep mask that she put on last night sticking to the side of her face, and she’s snoring horrendously loud. 
In your excitement, you lean forward and press a kiss to her forehead. 
“Jean?” 
You snort. 
“No. Don’t insult me in the early hours of the morning.” you state. 
Your voice is enough to wake Mikasa up, and similarly enough to you, she shoots up the second she’s regained consciousness. The green mask is falling off the right side of her face and her eyes are so horrendously wide that she almost looks like an alien. 
“Holy shit. “
“What?” 
��I’m getting married today.” 
You can’t help but smile from ear to ear as you wrap your arms around her neck and squeeze hard. It’s a mix of giggles, of the two of you squealing like you were fifteen again, and of you and Mikasa tickling each other in your hug.
The morning goes by relatively slowly. 
Whatever that feeling is, the warm, sweetness in the air – it’s hanging in the air. The group of you are all holed up in Mikasa’s room – Gabi, Falco, Connie, Historia, Armin, and Sasha. The rest of them were all stuck with Jean. You can already anticipate that there’s more panic and high energy in that room just from the sheer fact of Ymir being stuck with Reiner, Eren, and Jean in there alone. 
You were all in charge of getting Mikasa ready, of getting dressed yourselves, and getting her to the venue. They had to do the same with Jean – but you and Eren had to be there before to pass out the corsages and pin the boutonnieres. 
There was a slight panic in the background, but the calmness was making it taper into almost nothing. And really, the entire ordeal felt so homey, so ordinary that you couldn’t help but find yourself smiling as you all went about it, because you had been thinking – planning for it – for so long. 
Connie and Sasha tasked themselves with making iced coffee, Falco and Gabi had spent twenty minutes tracking down the Doordash order with the breakfast, and you were left alone to do Mikasa’s hair. 
It was just the two of you, humming in the bathroom to the quiet little playlist Jean had sent Mikasa as a gift this morning, as you quietly tasked yourself with doing her hair. It was relatively simple, just two braids at the front to tuck behind her ears, with little flowers intertwined in between. The veil was going to take up most of the space in the back, so you were just curling the ends for her. 
It’s quiet until you can hear her sniffling, only to look up in the mirror to her trying to blot her tears away from her eyes. You try to focus on the song that’s playing – only to find that Jean had put invisible string in the playlist – and you can’t help but smile. You pause, placing your hands on her shoulders as you squeeze hard. 
“Oh god. Are you getting cold feet because he’s ugly?” you joke. 
She glares at you. 
“Fuck off.” 
You laugh before tucking wrapping your arms around her waist and leaning your chin on her shoulder. She gives you a smile in the mirror – one that you return – as she finishes wiping her tears away. 
“Now really. What is it? You can’t be sad on your wedding day or else I’ve failed as a maid of honor.” 
She shakes her head. 
“Not sad. Just…I don’t know. I was reflecting. Feeling really introspective about a lot of things and I realized that there was a point that I thought this would never happen for me. And god, I’m so fucking happy it is.” Mikasa states. 
“This meaning…?” 
“You. Braiding my hair for my wedding. Jean. Actually marrying me after everything that happened. Getting to leave here with him.” 
You swallow hard. She turns around, placing her hands on your shoulder. You distract yourself by messing with how the ends of her bangs were falling, brushing them into place before you give her a smile. 
“Thanks for coming back. I would never want to do this without you.” she states. 
“Thanks for letting me. It would be agonizing to watch this from the sidelines.” 
She leans forward and hugs you, so hard that she’s leaning her entire weight on you. And every inclination that you made of letting go gets ignored, because Mikasa holds on to you for a long time. 
“You’re my best friend.” she mumbles. 
You can feel the tears accumulating in your own eyes, the sniffling coming from your nose this time, as you hear Mikasa spare a quiet laugh. 
“Seriously?” 
“I just started getting all fucking…introspective like you were. I’ve spent my entire life here, my entire childhood sleeping next to you and when I wasn’t, it was because Jean was in here. And now you’re getting married to him and I’m going to be right next to you when it happens, and I just…” 
You pause. 
“I don’t remember when we grew up. I’m glad I got to do it with the both of you.” you finish.
You try to etch it into your memory – this moment – so you can remember it forever. The two of you in your pajamas, barefoot on the cold tiles of the bathroom floor, breathing in tandem as you held each other while crying. 
She was hours away from being a wife. You were about to watch Jean and Mikasa get the perfect ending, that the nights that they spent together in your room all led to the two of them standing on that altar, exchanging vows. You would be two feet away from Eren, who was going to smile at you with his perfect green eyes and make your stomach do a somersault. 
You were going to hold hands, he was going to dance with you, and that might be the end of it. Or the start, if you’re both able to muster and get over that block that was always stuck in your throats. 
Connie and Sasha return with the coffee soon enough and Falco and Gabi with the food. You all sit in a circle, sharing bites and switching drinks, until Sasha locks herself and Mikasa in the bathroom to do her makeup and fit her into her dress. 
You take the free second to sit at the vanity, using the sweet free time to style Falco’s hair for him before you do your own makeup. You can see Connie brushing Gabi’s hair through the mirror, intently focused as he holds the bobbi pins in between his lips, and gathers her hair together at the back of her neck. You can’t help but smile as you focus back on Falco, trying to tame the unruliness of his hair with the mousse. 
“Be careful with Eren’s cufflinks today, Falco. He’s expecting those back.” you state. 
“No, he isn’t. He gave them to me earlier and he actually said that he wants me to keep them.” 
It makes your heart sink a little – only because you don’t know what it means. If he was giving it up to Falco out of good will because he was your little brother and he loved him or because he wanted to get them straight off of his hands since you two were going to be leaving and parting ways soon. 
“Well, be careful. They’re very nice. And they’re special too, so just. Take care.” you state. 
Falco frowns at you through the mirror, before turning back to look at you. 
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” 
“You seem sad.” 
“No. I just feel really sentimental. My best friend is getting married and we…we’re all going to be leaving soon. I’m watching two people who have been in love forever seal the deal before I won’t ever live with them ever again.” 
Falco frowns, before he reaches forward and wraps his arms around you. You can’t help but smile as you bury your nose into his shirt, breathing in the scent of his shampoo and laundry detergent mixed together. 
“You’ll have a lot of fun today. You’ll have Eren with you. And you’re performing your song, which will be amazing. Levi also told me that you have to save a dance from him and Connie said he’s going to mix drinks after the reception, so you have a lot to look forward to.” 
You glare at him. 
“The only thing you’re mixing is soda, Falco.” 
He gives you a grin. 
“Right!” 
“I’m going to tell mom.” 
He glares. 
“Don’t be a narc. I was trying to be nice to you.” 
“You’re going to get liver disease, Falco.” 
“Gabi and I have never tried it. We just wanted to do it together.” 
You pinch your lips together, before shaking your head. 
“I’ll just pretend like I didn’t hear that.” 
You watch as Falco’s eyes light up, before he presses a wet kiss to your cheek. You push him off, as you finish the last touches on his hair, and lean down to press a kiss to the top of his head. 
Falco runs off, mainly to Gabi’s side as he starts admiring her hair and she does the same to him. And as you quietly start smearing the makeup on your face, Connie takes the seat at your side at the vanity. 
It’s quiet. Mainly because he’s messing with the ends of his own hair and you’re focused on smearing the glitter on your eyelids that you don’t really acknowledge each other. You only break the concentration – and start the conversation – as Connie watches you struggle with your necklace. 
“Yikes. Want help?” 
You smile. 
“Yeah. Yeah, thanks.” you state. 
You hand the necklace over to him – and watch the smile spread across his face as he eyes the little Saturn charm – before he signals for you to turn around. The necklace falls perfectly into place before you turn back to him and silently thank him. 
“Eren’s wearing his pin too.” Connie states. 
“He is?” 
“Well, planning on it. I saw him walking around with it downstairs when we were making the coffee.” 
You hum in response, as you place the blush on your cheeks. 
“How did he seem? Is he stressed out?”
“No. He’s pretty zen, considering how batshit he was acting last night when you were running through the checklist.” 
You smile. 
“I just think he’s excited for the wedding. You know how much he loves Jean and Mikasa.” you state. 
Connie smiles at you through the mirror, before leaning his cheek in the palm of his hand. It’s a weirdly antagonistic look that he gives you, that you ignore as you rummage through the colors of your lip glosses and lipsticks to find the perfect one. 
“I know how much he loves you.” 
You give him a weary look. 
“You kissed three times. He smiled into the kiss. You used your tongue. We’re not about to play this shitty game.” Connie states. 
“I didn’t say anything.” you state. 
Connie smiles and really, the fact that he was rooting for the two of you so hard, that he approved, only made your excitement to see him later grow tenfold. 
“So you know that he loves you?” Connie asks. 
You swallow hard, before shaking the thought away. 
“Well, of course he does. We’re good friends.” 
Connie gives you a glare and it makes you fold. 
“Just…don’t tell him, okay?” 
“I won’t. But you…you do know, right?” 
You sigh. 
“Yeah. I’m just stuck on how to tell him, when the right time is, if…if he really wants to. I know that he loves me but that…that doesn’t necessarily mean that he wants to give our relationship another try.” 
Connie frowns. 
“He doesn’t know that’s on the table.” Connie states. 
“What do you mean?”
“You know he loves you. He has no idea that you love him too.” 
“There’s no way. It’s…it’s obvious. I’ve given him so many signs.” 
Connie shrugs. 
“Yeah. But he’s insecure. His mind plays tricks on him…and he won’t believe it unless you tell him, explicitly. Some days he says that he thinks you reciprocate and in the next hour, he’s moping in my room about how he’s lost you forever.” 
You deflate and give him a nod, as you secure your hands around one of your tubes of lipstick. Connie shakes his head, before taking it from you and digging through the little pouch himself. 
“No, you can’t wear that.” Connie states. 
“I didn’t realize you were so opinionated about the makeup I wore.” 
“No. Well, yes. But no, no Eren likes it when you wear glossy stuff on your lips.” 
“Why do you know that?”
“He’s down horrendous.” Connie affirms. 
“I’m not picking my makeup look based off of Eren.” 
Connie pauses and gives you a look. You sigh. 
“Okay, fine. Give it.” 
He gives you a bright smile, before handing it over to you. And you smear it over your lips, before taking the open room on the left so slip in your dress and meet Eren downstairs. 
--
You slip into your dress before you meet Eren downstairs, to make sure that everyone gets tucked into the correct cars, with flowers pinned to their jackets and secured around their wrists. You carry the pair of shoes you had chosen – black kitten heels to save your feet from the walking – as you make your way down the stairs. 
You can already see Eren standing in the kitchen, placing the boxes in a line, as you feel the nervousness prickle all over your skin. His hair is pushed back, tucked behind his ears. He’s not wearing his jacket yet, the sleeves of his white collared shirt pulled up to his forearms, and he looks perfect. 
You nervously knock on the frame of the door, as you drop your heels to the ground and join him at his side. 
“Hey. Want my help?” you mumble, feeling the shake in your voice. 
Eren’s fumbling with the plastic box in his hands, his throat bobbing, as he doesn’t respond, until it’s awkwardly been too long. And it’s almost like he’s realized it – that he was staring full on, that he had ignored what you had said – as he shakes his head before looking up at you. 
“Did-did you say something to me?” 
You can’t help but laugh, as you nervously rub at the sides of your biceps. 
“Yeah. I was asking if you wanted help.” 
“Right. Yeah, yeah. I was just making sure that the boxes had everyone’s names on it.” Eren adds. 
You hum in response, as you join him at his side, and eye the little list that he had set in the middle of the counter. You start to eye the little labels, leaving little star marks next to each one you found on the paper, as you try to distract yourself and the burning in the pit of your stomach. 
“You look beautiful.” 
You feel your eyes widen. 
“Huh?”
“I mean, you’re beautiful. You’re always beautiful, but you…” 
Eren lifts his gaze from the plastic boxes, as he looks over at you, eyes striking and piercing. It sends a shiver down your spine. He places both of his hands on your elbows and you mimic the motion by resting yours against your forearms as you look up at him. 
You watch as his eyes waver – first to your lips, before they drop down to your necklace. He reaches up, twisting the little Saturn charm in between his fingers, before he smiles up at you. 
“Mine is on my jacket.” 
You smile. 
“He has to be there some way, right?” 
He sighs. 
“Yeah.” 
“Speaking of…” 
He looks around the little plastic boxes, before he reaches for one that has your name scribbled over the top. You reach for it, before he pulls back, giving you an offended look. 
“Are you insane?” he asks. 
“What? That’s literally mine.” 
“What kind of guy do you think I am? You’re my date, I obviously have to put it on for you.” Eren states. 
“Oh.” 
Eren smiles.
“Yeah. Oh.” 
Eren opens up the little plastic box, pulling out the little corsage, before fidgeting with the little flowers until they fall perfectly. You hold out your left hand to him and he slides the little ribbon across your wrist, until it’s set in place. 
He lifts your hand and presses your knuckles against his lips, leaving a quiet kiss on your ring finger. It makes your chest burn. 
“Perfect.” he whispers. 
You swallow hard, trying to swallow the dryness in your throat, as you look up at him. 
“Can I do yours?” 
“I don’t have a corsage, sweetheart. Such a shame.” 
You shove him. 
“You know what I meant.” 
He smiles, as he reaches for his coat hanging from the chair. You find the box with his name on it as he pulls his jacket on, adjusting it. You take the little silver pins and the boutonniere as you press it to the lapel. And it’s going well until you poke a little too hard, in the wrong direction. 
“Ow.” 
“Fuck. I’m so sorry, Eren.” 
You can feel your hands shaking as you try to pin it properly this time, which only gets worse when you can feel that Eren’s watching you – and that he’s amused by how hard you’re trying not to stab him with the pins. 
“That didn’t actually hurt, Y/N.” 
You place the last pin before you unclench and look back up at him. You take the second to admire the little purple flowers on his coat, before smiling up at him. 
“Perfect!” 
Eren smirks, before he leans forward. He’s so close that you can feel the breath tickling your nose when he talks and the mint in his breath. 
“No kiss for me?” 
“Huh? Did…did you want one?” 
“It’s hardly satisfying when you have to ask for it. You have to offer it to me.” Eren states. 
And you were about to, but that’s right when Jean and Niccolo come tumbling down the stairs, readjusting their collars. You can hear the cars pulling up against the gravel outdoors, as Eren hands both of them their boutonnieres, and they run out the door. 
Everyone tumbles through like a stampede – as you get stuck handing all of them the boxes and get too distracted to hand them all out. You feel your heart burst when Historia realizes that she gets two corsages – since Reiner and Connie are both her dates – and the dramatic display that they both make of kissing her hand and her cheeks when they put them on her has you giggling. 
Levi and Hange are the last ones to leave, until it’s just you and Eren standing in the kitchen, facing each other. 
“Ready?” 
“Yeah. Just have to put my shoes on.” 
Eren gives you a nod, before grabbing them from the side and getting on his knees. His arms move around your leg, exposed from the slit in the side of your dress as he secures the buckles around your ankles. 
“Too tight?” 
You clear your throat. 
He has to know what he’s doing to you. That he can’t just place his head in between your legs like that. 
“No. That’s good.” 
He mimics the motion with the other shoe, fingers featherlike around your ankle, before he looks back up at you. And he holds his hand out to you, circling it around yours as the two of you walk out onto the gravel towards the car. 
--
The four of you are lined up inside, peeking out the window, at Jean standing alone at the altar. You can see groups of people running around the little makeshift aisles – Hange and Levi sharing a drink, Lana with a little baby bump and Teddy tangled around her knees, and Sofia and Ymir admiring the flowers around the aisle. 
“Lana and Sukuna are here. I can’t believe she’s showing already.” you whisper to Eren. 
You watch as Eren’s eyes scan the room, before he catches the sight of the three of them on the left and smiles. 
“Look at Teddy’s suit. He’s fucking adorable.” 
“Sofia and Ymir look fucking amazing.” Connie adds. 
“And Niccolo!” Sasha adds. 
The three of you turn your gaze to her, giving her a side eye, before you all burst out laughing. In the time that you have to wait for Mikasa, Connie somehow produces two popsicles from the little truck outside, one that he hands to you and Eren and the other that he shares with Sasha. 
You consider yourself lucky that Connie chose the blue one for himself and gave you and Eren the lemon, which had a translucent color. Connie later realizes his mistake when his tongue turns blue. 
You look up at Eren, whose eyes are still transfixed at the people lingering around outside. 
“You don’t want any, Eren?” 
He looks over at you, and down at the popsicle, before he wraps his arm around your wrists and uses it to lift the popsicle to his mouth. He takes one bite and gives you a smile, before dropping his featherlike touch from your hand and looking back outside. 
You can’t help but use your other hand to rub the inside of your forearm, where his fingers had just touched yours. 
And you watch everyone with him, the two of you silently standing at the window. Levi keeps getting Hange refills and Reiner and Historia go in the photo booth. Sukuna basically guards Lana like a dog – refusing to leave her side, leaning down every few minutes to whisper in her ear, with what you know is constant questioning of if she’s comfortable or not. 
Connie and Sasha yank on your elbows. The two of you turn your heads only to fall silent at the sight of Mikasa, excitedly smiling at you in her pristine and perfect white dress. 
“Ready to get me married, guys?” she whispers. 
You feel your heart squelch in your chest as you reach forward at the same time as Sasha, the two of you stuck in each of her arms and the fresh scent of her bouquet filling your nose. You can’t help but admire her – the shimmering glitter on her skin, the sparkling accents on her dress, and the veil flowing behind her. 
It’s perfect. 
She lets the two of you go before she gives Connie and Eren a shy smile, and they both rise to the occasion. They make a dramatic display of clutching their chests and it makes your heart sing as you watch Mikasa smile at the praise, at the two of them making it evidently clear that she’s one of the most beautiful things she’s ever seen. Connie and Eren both lean down to press a kiss to Mikasa’s cheeks, before you all line up, standing side by side. 
Connie and Sasha stand in front, followed by you and Eren, and then Mikasa alone. You turn to Eren and he offers you a wink, as you feel your nerves bubble as the entrance song stars. 
You can see it from the window – Levi seated at the piano with the microphone in front of him. And on his cue, Sasha and Connie walk out first together. 
I've waited a hundred years But I'd wait a million more for you Nothing prepared me for What the privilege of being yours would do
Eren extends his hand out to you and you wrap yours in with his, as you both walk out into the courtyard. The air is fresh, the sun is dipping into the sunset and making a perfect mix of purple and pink hues, as the little lights hanging from the trees start twinkling. 
You can’t help but squeeze hard on the bouquet as you walk down, nerves tingling. It’s warm in the little courtyard, but only because of how the blood rushes to your cheeks – it nearly hurts to smile this hard. 
You offer Sukuna a wink as you walk past, before you and Eren let each other go at the end of the aisle. You and Eren stop before Jean, before leaning forward to give him a hug. You press a kiss to his cheek, which he smiles brightly at, before you and Eren take your spots opposite to each other at his side. 
If I had only felt the warmth within your touch If I had only seen how you smile when you blush Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough
I would have known what I was living for all along What I've been living for
Levi’s voice is piercing, so warm and full that it makes the tears spark to your eyes. And when everyone rises out of their chairs and Mikasa steps out into the light, you instantly turn your head to the left to look at Jean. 
And surely enough, Jean’s hands are shaking at his sides as the tears start to sprout out of his eyes – as he looks at her glide down and doesn’t break his eye contact once. It’s full blown tears, from both of them, and Mikasa’s basically rushing down the aisle just to get there faster. 
You look past Jean to find Eren watching the two of them, with the brightest smile on his face. 
Your love is my turning page Where only the sweetest words remain Every kiss is a cursive line Every touch is a redefining phrase
When Mikasa makes it to the end, Jean reaches for her hand and pulls her up. You take the little bouquet from her hands, and she gives you a wink in response, before turning back to Jean and locking her hands in with his. 
I surrender who I've been for who you are For nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart If I had only felt how it feels to be yours Well, I would have known what I've been living for all along What I've been living for
Levi finishes the end of his song with a dancing melody on the piano, before everyone takes a seat and they start the ceremony. 
You and Eren stare at each other the entire time. 
--
The reception afterwards is cast in silver moonlight. There’s a live jazz band, a little dance floor, and obviously an open bar. It’s a rush to make sure that Mikasa and Jean aren’t entirely shit faced by the time you’re able to perform your song and keeping them away from the bar before that happens turns out to be a horrendous task. 
But surely enough, you and Eren are standing by the piano as you wait for Levi to announce the first dance. You turn to Eren, looking up at him, as you watch Levi make his way over to the microphone. 
“Nervous?” 
Eren shakes his head. 
“Have you with me. We’ll be fine.” 
You give him a nod as you absentmindedly tangle your hand in with his at your sides, that he welcomes. And when Levi announces that it’s time for the first dance, Mikasa and Jean make their way to the center of the dance floor, the two of them blowing you a kiss as you take your seat at the piano. 
The second they look away, too entranced with looking at each other, Eren slides into the bench at your side and the two of you start playing the piano together. It’s only when Eren starts singing the first verse that they look back, at the two of you sitting there together. 
Eren:  I spy with my little tired eye Tiny as a firefly A pebble that we picked up last July Down deep inside your pocket We almost forgot it Does it ever miss Wicklow sometimes?
You look up from the piano keys to find Jean looking at you – smiling so brightly as the tears stream from his eyes – with Mikasa in his hands. You give him a wink, as you watch him turn his head away, his tears only increasing when he looks down at Mikasa. 
Eren and Y/N:  They said the end is coming Everyone's up to something I find myself running home to your sweet nothings Outside, they're push and shoving You're in the kitchen humming All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing
Y/N:  On the way home I wrote a poem You say, "What a mind" This happens all the time
You can’t help but turn to your left to look at Eren, only to find that he’s already looking at you first. He tangles his foot in with yours under the piano as your fingers brush against each other and you can feel it – the softness enveloping you and Eren, that the feeling of being around him makes your skin tickle whenever he looks at you. 
Y/N:  Industry disruptors and soul deconstructors And smooth-talking hucksters out glad-handing each other And the voices that implore, "You should be doing more" To you, I can admit that I'm just too soft for all of it
You and Eren turn your heads back to the dance floor to watch as everyone joins Jean and Mikasa on the dance floor, hands locked together as they all smile at each other. Connie, Reiner, and Historia are trying some weird three way version of slow dance that has all of them laughing, and Hange and Levi are stuck in some deep conversation that they are whispering in each other’s ears. 
Falco and Gabi are so tense that it almost looks painful, but the smiles on their faces don’t indicate that they’re aware of how rigid they’re both being. And Ymir presses a kiss to Sofia’s cheek, which makes her laugh. 
Eren and Y/N:  They said the end is coming (they said the end is coming) Everyone's up to something (everyone's up to something) I find myself running home to your sweet nothings Outside, they're push and shoving (outside, they're push and shoving) You're in the kitchen humming (you're in the kitchen humming) All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing
You and Eren turn to your left to give the jazz band a thumbs up, as they take over on the music and start playing soft violin music so everyone can keep going. And you turn back to your right towards Eren and lean forward to wrap your arms around his neck. 
And when you pull back, you secure one of his hands around his cheek and absentmindedly rub your thumb against his bottom lip. 
“Think it went well?” Eren whispers. 
You shrug. Eren smiles back, before mimicking your shrug in response. 
You can feel the breath leave your lungs as you feel a pair of two arms around you, only to find Jean and Mikasa strangling you and Eren from behind the piano. The two of you stand up, to hug the two of them openly, as they smile down at you. Mikasa seems to break off to talk to Eren, because Jean pulls you to the side. 
“Y/N.” 
“Just to be clear, that was your gift. And if you hate it, that’s too bad because I –” 
You’re cut off by Jean pressing a kiss to your cheek, before he envelopes you in a hug so hard that you can barely breathe. Jean lets go after a few minutes, his hand warm on your face as he smiles down at you. 
“I loved it. That was the song of my dreams.” 
You can’t help but grin at him. 
“You deserve nothing less, Jean. I…I’m really happy for you. Just take care of my girl, okay?” 
“That’s a promise.” he affirms. 
You’re joined by Eren and Mikasa at your sides and you can tell from the pink mark on Eren’s cheek that Mikasa was feeling just as sappy as Jean was. You reach forward and wipe the mark away from his cheek, as you look at the two of them. 
“I owe Mika a dance and then Gabi. I’m all yours after that, Y/N.” Eren says. 
You smile, before you wave him off. 
“Go ahead.” 
You take your seat back at the piano bench, as you collect the sheet music and the lyrics and tuck them into the little cabinet of the piano. You sit there for some time – watching Eren and Mikasa giggle on the dance floor before he switches with Gabi who can’t stop blushing. 
That’s until you’re joined by Levi at your side, who offers you a flute of champagne. You take it from him, as you tuck your arm into his, leaning your head against his shoulder. 
“Your song was beautiful, Levi.” you murmur. 
“Yours was too.” he responds. 
You both watch the room in silence for some time, at how animated and lively it all was. Teddy was falling asleep against Sukuna’s shoulder, but him and Lana were caught in a deep conversation – soft smiles on both of their faces as they talked under their breaths at their table. 
“I want to talk to you about something.” Levi states. 
“Go ahead.” 
Levi clears his throat. 
“I…I hear that my vow renewal all those years ago meant a lot to you. Eren and I were talking about it.” 
“Oh. Yeah, what about it?” 
“I want to know what it meant.” Levi clarifies. 
You lean back as you think about it – about the love in the room – and turn back to him. 
“That night was the first time that Eren and I said we loved each other. That…that was the last time before things went so horribly wrong. Because we sat on the bench and talked about the love in the room, about how it was between us.” 
You can feel your throat drying. 
“After that, I got so busy. I started working too hard. He got stuck on Satellite Port, he…he was around people we hated and there were just so many things that came between us. I let go but then he did too. I had him for a second and then he was gone for good.” 
You look back out at him, posing for a picture with Gabi encased in his arms. 
“I saw you and Hange that day and all I could think about was how in love you guys were. About how I knew love was real, because you guys had it. That…that was what I was going to strive for, what I still do strive for at the end of the day. You guys are perfect, you’re THE love story for me and…you always have been.” 
Levi sighs. 
“Can I say one thing to you?” Levi asks. 
“Yeah.” 
“You have a tendency to not see things as they are sometimes. Like Danny and Sareen taking advantage, like Eren saying it was okay when you let him go, and believing him when he said what he did.” 
You tilt your head to the side, in confusion. 
“Hange and I are far from perfect. I’ll tell you now, very clearly. Hange and I did a vow renewal because we needed one. Not because it was romantic and we wanted to do it again.” 
“What?” 
“We wouldn’t be together if we didn’t do it. And our relationship reached that point, where…where we needed to affirm it again. That we loved each other, that we were committed, that we were what was most important.” 
You sit back, dumbfounded. 
Levi and Hange were in love. They had always been in love. 
“I don’t get it.” 
Levi smiles. 
“What I mean by this is that…these things are normal in love. The initial attraction doesn’t keep you going. You have to pick each other, you have to be on the same side. It’s far more intentional, less cosmic as you think.” Levi states. 
You follow his gaze to Jean and Mikasa, clearly obscenely drunk out of their minds, eating their wedding cake. 
“They’re just as perfect as me and Hange are. It’s a fucking testament to them that they’re sitting here married after what happened with them. And it should be proof to you that what happened with you and Eren won’t hold you back, that…that it’ll really benefit you when it comes to it.  You’ve already gotten past the hard part, you just need to leap now.” 
You swallow hard. 
“Are you shattering my entire worldview by telling me the truth about your vow renewal so I’ll date Eren?”
“Yeah.” 
“Figures.” 
Levi looks over at you, hands warm on your shoulders. 
“Your mistake wasn’t picking him. His was not picking you when it came to it later, not in the way that mattered anyway. Now, fix it. Pick him now.” 
Levi abruptly stops when Eren’s standing at your side, tie loosened around his neck as he gives you a cheesy smile. 
“Ready for me?” Eren asks. 
Levi gives you a narrowed look, which you ignore as you nod and stand up at his side. Eren leads you to the center of the dance floor, securing his hands around your waist as you tangle your own around his neck. 
You and Eren sway to the violin in the background, the two of you quietly observing each other as you walk in step. 
“I’m sorry I took so long. I danced with Mikasa and then Gabi. Lana and Sukuna stopped to talk to me and I just got side tracked.” 
You shake your head. 
“No, no. I…it’s okay. I was with Levi.” 
Eren smiles. 
“I…I’m glad you’re here with me now.” he whispers. 
“Me too.” you whisper back. 
The live singer, a small gift that Levi and Hange had planned for Mikasa and Jean, arrives right at the start of your little dance, and her voice so soft and melodic that you can’t help but pull yourself closer to Eren as she sings, until your ear is muffled against his coat, barely catching the ends of his heartbeat. 
Time's moving so much slower lately It's like the world's playin' a joke Laughing at me for falling foolishly again But something's different with you
Traffic on Sunset doesn't phase me I'm just unusually composed That is until I touch you and I can't pretend I lose myself again, I do
I'm all in, I'm fallin' Can't get back up Can't think right, too tongue-tied It must be love
“Eren?” 
“Yeah?” 
“What are you thinking about?” 
He pulls you apart a little, until you’re standing properly and looking up at him. The violin’s are sending goosebumps down your arms as he looks down at you, pointer finger hooked under your chin as he guides you to look up at him. 
“That someone heard my prayers.” 
You smile. 
“Really?” 
He nods. 
“Armin and I used a whoopie cushion on Connie earlier. Gabi gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek and Teddy fell asleep in my lap earlier. Jean and Mikasa are getting married and I’m here with you. There was a point where thinking I’d ever end up here seemed unfathomable to me.” 
“You and Armin are so immature.” you state. 
Eren shrugs. 
“It keeps me young,” he jokes. 
Friends asking me where I've been hiding I'm losin' hours in your eyes Lost in your wonderland, I hope I'm never found There's no one else around, tonight
I'm not so used to being happy Now I just float down every street You made a sappy, stupid something out of me The kind I swore I'd never be I'm awake inside a dream
“I have…I have a lot I want to talk to you about, Eren. So…so much I want to say.” 
Eren’s eyes widen. 
“My time is always yours. What did you want to say?” 
“It’s so many things. And I want to say it right. There’s…there’s so much going on and I don’t want you to take it the wrong way and I don’t want to scare you off because you and I are just doing good again and I don’t think that –” 
Eren narrows his eyes. 
“Why are you so tense? There’s nothing you could say that would hurt my feelings. It’s just me.” 
You frown. 
“That’s the problem. It’s just you.” 
You feel a tapping on your shoulder, only to find Jean and Mikasa standing by your side, with two glasses in their hands. 
“Are we interrupting something?” Jean asks. 
You groan. 
“No. What’s up?” 
“We have one last request.” Mikasa states. 
“What is it?” Eren asks. 
The two of them give each other an excited smile – cheeks glazed pink – before they turn back to you. 
“You have to let loose and drink.” they state, pushing the glasses into your hands. 
You both give each other a pinched look, before turning back to them. 
“We don’t drink. It makes me sleepy. And he doesn’t like the taste.” you state. 
“We’re not going to force you. But really, you put so much time into the wedding. We just want you guys to have fun…loosen up a little bit.” Mikasa states. 
The two of them giggle as they walk away, leaving the two of you in the center of the dance floor, nursing the glasses in your hands. You look up at him, entirely lost from your train of thought, as he eyes the liquid. 
“Do you want to?” Eren asks. 
“I don’t know. Do you want to?” 
“It’s been a while since I’ve drank. And really, I only choose not to drink because I always seem to be around people that I’d feel uncomfortable losing my inhibitions around. But it’s just you and me and you’re basically one of the only people I could drink around. I don’t think a little wouldn’t hurt, I guess.” 
You nod, following his lead. Your moment to say your piece had passed already. 
“Okay. Okay, yeah.” 
You both lift the glasses to your lips and sip. 
--
Eren has to carry you back into the house. Because true to your previous statement, wine did make you really sleepy – and two bottles of it has you curled up into his lap in the back of the car. 
Eren can feel his heart beating fast, the sensation blooming in his chest as he tries to steady his breaths. He absentmindedly runs his hands through your hair, running his finger over the sole braid tucked behind your ear. 
He doesn’t think about it very well, but he leans forward and presses a kiss to the tip of your nose. Eren figures that he must have leaned too close because it has you rousing from your sleep, only nuzzling into his chest even more. 
“Are we home yet, Eren?” 
He can feel his chest tightening. 
“No, sweetheart. Almost, okay?” 
“Okay. Okay, just take me in with you, alright?” you mumble. 
Eren saves his retort about how he’d never leave you behind for when you’re awake, just so he could make sure that you’d actually remember it. And five minutes later, he’s left standing on the gravel with you, as you lean almost all of your weight into his side. 
Every move he makes has you losing your balance, almost toppling to the ground. 
“Hey. Can you lock your arms around my neck?” 
You give him a halfhearted mumble before following his instructions, only to feel him hook his arms underneath your legs and shakily walk you towards the door. You can tell that he’s stumbling a little bit – not walking straight as he almost backs up into the wall as he walks in. 
The two of you must have had too much to drink. Because as Eren walks straight up the stairs, he aims so horribly that he smacks your head straight into the wall and curses after the fact. 
“Eren.” you hiss. 
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t see the wall.” 
You groan in response. 
“Look out for it next time.” 
Eren scathes his way to the hallway to his room, which he kicks open before leading you in. You all but collapse on his bed face first as he leans against the wall – groaning from how dizzy he was getting. Luckily for him, he had thought ahead to lay out clothes for himself – and that he overthought so much that there was a second pair too. 
Eren walks over to the bed, placing one of his hands on your shoulder as he shakes. 
“Y/N.” 
No response. 
“Y/N. You can’t sleep in your pretty dress.” he whispers. 
“Tired.” you respond, voice mumbled. 
“Here. I’ll help you change, just work with me.” 
Eren holds one of his hands out to you, which you take. He uses it to pull you up until you’re leaning against him, head lolled against his shoulder and his hands on your waist stabilizing you. Eren secures his hand around your face and you lean into the touch as he looks down at you, eyes side. 
“Work with me here.” Eren whispers. 
“Okay.” 
“I’m going to help you with the zipper on your dress. Just slide the shirt that I left on the side, I-I’ll close my eyes.” 
You shrug. 
“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to close your eyes.” 
“What?” 
“I don’t know. Is that weird? It…it’s nothing you haven’t seen before. And…and I’m not…I don’t know what I’m saying.” 
Eren gives you a nod before he guides you to turn around, fixing his shaking hands on the zipper as he starts pulling it down. Eren can feel his breath hitch in his throat as he turns his head away, trying to banish the thought of the fabric pooling at your legs on the floor, at the small dip in your back that he always seemed to think about. 
He can feel you tugging at his arm and he turns back to find you drowning in one of his old t-shirts, as you look up at him. 
“Are you cold? I have pants you can wear or…or an extra blanket and I –” 
“No. No, it’s okay.” 
Eren didn’t really ask for the help, maybe because he was a little bit more awake than you, but he doesn’t stop you when you reach forward and start unbuttoning his shirt. Eren can tell that it’s more difficult for you than it would have been for him, but he doesn’t have it in his heart to stop you. 
Eren pulls the shirt off and discards it to the side, before turning around to unbutton his pants and switch into his boxers. 
“You…you don’t have to wear a shirt. If you still don’t.” you state. 
Eren can feel his cheeks burning. 
“You sure?”
“I actually don't want you to. That’s why I mentioned that.” 
You’re definitely drunk, Eren thinks. 
“And why’s that?” 
“I like feeling close to you. There’s nothing between my ear and your heart when I lean against you.” you mumble. 
Eren can feel his heart constrict – even more than it was before – when you look up at him now, the glitter smeared around your eyes. And he’s not sure what it is, but there’s tears accumulating in your eyes, replacing the sweetness in his chest with concern. 
“Eren.” you whimper. 
“What? What is it?” 
You swallow hard. You lean your hands against his chest, before pressing your cheek to his chest. 
“I love you so much.” 
Eren frowns, before leaning his chin against the top of your head. 
“That’s nothing to cry about, princess. I love you too.” 
You shake your head, bringing your hands up to your cheeks as you squeeze hard on the skin. 
“No. No, I love you, Eren.” you whisper. 
“Y/N. You…you’re drunk.” 
You frown. 
“You don’t believe me?” 
“I do. But I…I don’t know if it’s because you’re drunk. You might change your mind in the morning.” Eren states. 
You shake your head.
“Eren. Eren, you’re everything to me.” 
You look up at him, reaching to tuck the ends of his hair behind his ear, as you feel your voice shake. 
“I saw Mikasa and Jean and I just…I just knew more than I already did before that I want it to be me and you. I want us to write songs together, I want to wake up next to you, I want to give you haircuts in our bathtub.” 
Eren smiles. 
“Haircuts?” 
“I love your hair short. Just a little bit shorter than it is now, because…because it looks like your hair when I fell in love with you. I’ve been falling since then and I just need you to crawl down into this hole and be here with me, Eren.” you mumble. 
Eren sighs. 
“I’d do anything you asked me to. But, but I need you to say it to me tomorrow, when…when you’re being serious.” 
“I am serious. Eren, there’s no love in the room if you aren’t in it with me.” 
Eren has no words. He has to stumble something out – something because you’re looking at him so expectantly with your doe eyes like you’re waiting for him to give in. 
“Still.” 
You nod, as you stand on the tips of your toes to tuck yourself into the neck. 
“Can you give me one thing, Eren?” 
“What?” 
“Will you kiss me? Just once?” you ask. 
Eren pulls back, eyes weary as he looks down at you. 
“I don’t want to take advantage of you. You, you’re…” 
“I want to kiss you. I messed up our second kiss while we were filming because I wanted to kiss you so bad I forgot we were working. I think about it all the time. I want it so bad and I just –” 
Eren leans forward, pressing his lips to yours. You can still taste the remnants of the wine on his lips and he’s breathing shakily into your mouth as he cradles your face in his hands. 
You can feel your heart somersault when he smiles into the kiss, when he presses two, three, and four more to the side of your face. You drop your hands from his neck to his back, the raised skin of the scars on his back underneath your fingers as he presses kisses down your neck. 
“Eren.” 
“Sorry. Fuck, I’m sorry. Too much. We have to go to bed because you’re drunk and I…I can’t do this if you’re drunk and I am too and it…” 
You nod. 
“You’re right. Just…just let me sleep here with you?” you ask. 
“Come on.” 
Eren walks around to the other side of the bed, not without walking straight into the wall first, before he climbs under the sheets with you. And it’s the last thing he remembers before he goes to sleep – you wrapping your leg around him and pressing a kiss right on top of his heart before he goes to bed. 
--
When you wake up in the morning, Eren’s spot in the bed is empty. And you only see him an hour later, when you’re able to reel from what happened last night and see him in the kitchen. 
There’s ten different people milling around the kitchen. Erwin and Historia, Connie and Falco throwing a football, and Sasha taste testing Niccolo’s coffee. But all you see when you walk in is Eren, who just gives you a small wave. 
You feel the rejection sting as you offer it back and take the spot next to him. 
“Hey.” 
“Hi.” 
“Happy last day of filming. Well, not for us, but…you..you know what I meant.” he states. 
You feel your heart drop. He doesn’t remember last night. 
“You too, Eren.”
--
an: oh ladies and gentleman are we ready. ARE WE READY BC CONFESSION NEXT CHAPTER AND IM SO FRRRR. not proofread maybe ill do it tomorrow if I feel strongly enough about it.
also taylor as gojo, bsfs older brother sukuna, and method acting in three days. aka. I CRY A LOT BUT I AM SO PRODUCTIVEEEE ITS AN ART (no I don't I just though this joke was funny)
alsOOOO as I wrap things up I remember someone mentioned wanting some MA chapters from eren's perspective but I can't for the life of me think about which one's would be good for that. the main one that comes to mind is when y/n gets stranded and eren comes to her rescue with ricky LOL. anyways im open to ideas.
taglist: @k0z3me @kayleegomez @yihona-san06 @bsenpai @sweetenertea @mykyoon @violetmatcha @rebeccawinters @cutiejg @bokutosthings @bookwrmm @mblrrr @wheredidmycrowngo @somethinginyoureyes7 @chilichopsticks @okaystopwhore @you-always-made-me-blush @itzmeme @firelordazulaaa @whoami-72 @g-ghostly @intimacywithceline @erensmoodygf @cocomellxn @princess-ackerman @jaegerfiles @cacapeepee @rui-0836 @moonmalice @invisible-mori @sofiasber @bbybeeb @timetobegone @tee4str @ttokki2 @leave-rae-alone @ec3lipsy @officialsimpp @gojojang @yookayyo @lordbugs @multiplefandomthings @iobeyfandoms @camilo-uwu @justanotherkpopstanlol l @mel-star636 @fvckingeetar @ttalgi @najaemism @ilovekimchi123 @youraggedybitch @xoyumiqls @leafguitar @spiidergirlsworld @luvs4kim @levin4nami i @florichun @hoonmyluv
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st4rb3rr13s · 8 months
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CEO!Eren meeting you for the first time. You were friends with Mikasa, his sister, and she invited you over for Sunday family dinner. You decided to make peach cobbler so you didn’t come empty handed. (Mikasa told you if you brought something you’d instantly be Mama Carla’s second daughter.) When Eren first saw you, you were in the kitchen helping his mom set up and talking to Mikasa. His eyes lit up before they quickly softened. At that moment, he knew he needed to have you, or at least see what you were about. (Eren doesn’t just pick anyone, this man is a CEO! He can get anyone with all the money he has, but he wants someone special.) Once your head turned, the two of you kept eye contact before Mikasa started to make fun of him. That whole evening, Eren kept flirting with you. Mikasa was getting annoyed. (because your her girl, her best friend, why tf is her brother hitting on you?? She knew how picky you were with your taste in men and didn’t know how this would go down.) That’s until she realized you liked him back, then she started to tease both of you. Finally, when he tried your peach cobbler, he was done for. He knew he was going to marry you. And if your pussy tasted as good as this peach cobbler he was eating, you two were going to have a problem.
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arminsgffr · 1 month
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Armin is the type of boyfriend…
That info dumps every time you ask about what he’s reading.
That kisses you suddenly, no matter what you’re doing, because he gets the courage to in very random moments.
That makes you playlists.
That gives the most beautifully written love letters.
That stares at you, ‘cause he likes to learn your features and appreciate them.
That’s really good at comforting, but really bad at receiving comfort.
That likes to kiss your hands and forehead.
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little-spoiled-brat · 9 months
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levi who doesn’t know how to play uno but still plays with the cadets and y/n and they change the rules on him every time just to see him get angry when he loses for the fifth time in a row.
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chrollohearttags · 10 months
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my fruity ass is missing nail!tech mikasa and her pretty fem gf 🥲🥲🥲
I miss my pookie wookie too and I cannot stop thinking about (y/n) spending day at work with her, cutting up! 😭 (also, side note: I’ve decided that the reader is going to be a lash tech in this au! So sorry for the confusion!)
content warning: lots of fluff and banter, humor, sexual jokes, kissing, pet names, mentions of alcohol, (sweet pea, baby)
working with your girlfriend was always an interesting experience. The Sugar and Spice Haus, her salon, had been a staple in the city for quite a few years. People lined up for miles around to get their nails slayed by the finest tech around. But ever since you decided to work alongside her after completing your certification to become a lash tech. You’d opened up shop with the spare space she had and it was more than enough to profit off of and perfect your craft. The two of you saw average of at least twenty customers a day. Which sounded minuscule but they paid amicably so it made up and with you being the only ones there, it was a pretty hectic workload. So you’d have to keep yourselves entertained oftentimes to avoid burning out and needless to say, things were a lot of fun! And sometimes….
“Hey, baby. Can you grab me that brush over there?”
“Nah, ion want to.”
“See how I’m treated in this relationship? Just awful..”
you played a little too much! It wasn’t uncommon for your customers see the two of you joking around as you worked away to fulfill their beauty needs. Lively music playing throughout the room, complimentary drinks and little candies offered at arrival and of course, two fine and funny women to keep them entertained throughout the services. Oftentimes, your customers would ask questions about how the two of you met and what your relationship was like. And not once would the two of you give a completely serious answer. Mikasa was definitely the one with the sarcastic mouth and quick witted responses. She’d just say things that were unintentionally funny but would have everyone laughing. You on the other hand loved to joke around and clown. Your infectious laugh and smile always the highlight of hers and everyone else’s day. It was always a good time..
“This bitch stayed in trouble, y’all. Every day, she was in detention..we sitting in class, hear comes the speaker: “Mikasa Ackerman, can you report to the principal’s office?”
“And your ass only knew because you were right there beside me. I remember one time, she almost got suspended because she told one of the teachers she was built like Hank Hill and the crack of her ass went all the way to her neck. Whole class busted out laughing. That woman was so pissed, I thought she was going to strangle (y/n). I swear, she’s such a terrible influence.”
immediately sending the two of you and your clients into hysterics. When one would finish a set, if the other was on a break, you’d ask each other to examine your work and it always, without fail, elicited a smart mouthed response. “What do you think of these nails, (y/n)?” “I mean…they aight. They ain’t all that.” Lying through your teeth and unable to keep a straight face because they’d be the most gorgeous set you’d ever seen. “Listen, you wanna take her home with you? ‘Cause she’s aggravating.” Pointing to you and staring at her appointment at the time, who’d tell you two that they couldn’t imagine either of you with anyone else and that you were perfect for one another. There was so much love and laughter in your relationship that it made the long days pass by like a breeze. There wasn’t a moment that was dull or boring with the love of your life around. When the later crowd would come in or on days you’d serve alcoholic drinks because the guy who was licensed to do so would be there, it was even more entertaining and the conversations got even crazier!
“That frozen mango margarita looks so damn good. I’ll get one after I go on break. (Y/N), get my wallet from the back.”
“Unt uh, I ain’t getting you that. It’s gone go straight to your coochie and now we gotta close down early for the day.”
“See, you talk too much. That’s your problem because why are you telling my business?”
just enjoying every bit of your time together. Most people would despise working with their spouses but it never felt like work when you enjoyed what you done and who you done it alongside..after a long day, you’d be in the back, counting up your earnings and being all affectionate. Sitting on her lap with her arms coiling your waist as she rested her head on your shoulder..glancing over paperwork. Meanwhile, you counted up your earnings for the day. “I had fun today.” “So did I, I’m so glad you’re here, sweet pea.” Mumbling into the crook of your neck as she kisses you and the sentiment is the exact same from you. Since starting there, you’d never smiled so much while working. She made your days easier and much more enjoyable. And truthfully, Mika felt less lonely with you around. Loving every second of that time you got together. Giving each other soft, subtle kisses right there before finishing up and heading home for the evening. When you had the love of your life by your side, it was always a good time and when you loved what you done for a living, it never truly felt like a day of work.
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arminsumi · 6 months
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BOOKSTORE BOY
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Yelling his "I love you" in the briny wind.
Series : Bookstore Boy / end
Pairing : Armin x fem!reader
Tags : @sad-darksoul — @ringsofsaturnnnn — @underthetree845 — @oliviaissocool1 — @crisalidaseason — @koriinsan
Note : the finale can't live in the drafts forever! i know it's short and the story was meant to have more chapters, but i don't have the "feeling" to continue it (some stories have their time and i can't write on them further, happens to my irl stories too). so please take this finale scene and let it have a home in your daydreams. thank you everyone who enjoyed this story, your comments made it a memorable and wonderful experience to write💗
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Armin was in love with you. Anyone could see that even at a glance. He radiated his feelings like the sun, albeit a bit self-consciously. Sometimes when staring at you, he seemed entranced; his coffee would go untouched and turn cold, his stories would go unfinished and stay at 1300 words — 1300 words of love.
He would write each word carefully with his quill, and bring the onion-thin letter to the beach one day to give to you. God knows he couldn't say all that he felt with his voice — no way, it would shake too much and he'd stutter just like he had stuttered when he first met you in the bookstore. So he wanted to tell you everything he felt in a letter instead.
But of course, funny things happen in life.
It was a windy day when you rode on the back of Armin's bicycle to the beach. When he prepared to give you the letter, it blew right out of his delicate grip, and flapped away in the air until it swooped down into the incoming ocean waves — disappearing forever.
"I spent a long time writing that..." he shook his head.
"... what was it? Poetry?" you asked.
He was walking alongside you to the rustic wooden path that lead away from the beach. The wind whipped his hair around violently and made him squint and blink.
"I — uhm — no, not poetry... just a letter." he replied.
He started shifting awkwardly.
"A letter?" you questioned, "What did you write?"
"Ahhh, I can't say it..." he made a shy smile and rubbed the back of his neck.
He goofily backed away from you until he made a distance between you and him, and then he waved. He was stood in the sand and you were stood next to the beach grass.
"Tell me!" you yelled, smiling at his antics. "I want to know! So come back here and tell me!"
You were yelling with a smile, holding the handles of his bicycle to keep it stable in this forceful wind. Armin's cat was sat in its front basket; Umi looked at Armin, then at you, then started licking her paw.
Armin took a deep, steadying inhale of the briny scent of the sea. It gave him courage. Something about the sea always steadied his mind.
Then he yelled something into the wind at you, but it was inaudible because of a sudden and hard gust that blew by.
"WHAT?" you yelled back, "WHAT DID YOU SAY? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU."
"I LOVE YOU."
"WHAT?"
"I LOVE YOU!"
"HUH?"
He rolled his eyes. You watched his t-shirt flapping with the wind, and his hair whipping around.
He cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled louder.
"I SAID; I LOVE YOU!!"
You paused, looked at him, and slowly smiled with your eyes and cheeks. He was so red in the face, redder than you'd ever seen him. His ears felt hot. His heart was pounding like a drum.
"I LOVE YOU TOO, ARMIN!!"
His heart pounded harder and his blush spread down his cheeks to his jawline.
He inhaled and used all the strength in his lungs to yell back;
"I LOVE YOU MORE!!"
The letter he meant to give to you was lost at sea somewhere in-between waves by then. The ink of the last part dissolved;
... your love makes me feel courageous like a soldier. Thank you for everything; my bookstore girl.
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© arminsumi
I do not permit the copying/reposting/translation/plagiarism of my works. Do not steal what I've worked hard to create.
This is fictional work.
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yoongikapi · 7 days
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looking after you || levi || drabbles
fluff
aot masterlist
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❥ while training; whether it be with maneuver gear or hand-to-hand combat, he secretly pushes you harder than the rest. not to annoy or tire you, but because he knows there might be a day when he’s not there to protect you, and he wants you to be able to take care of things yourself
❥ once you joined his squad, he always made sure you got your fill of food before himself. he’d rather you have plenty to eat so you could stay healthy and strong; he never wanted you to worry about food or go hungry. you’d always suggest he goes first, but he’d always deny your request
❥ at night when he couldn’t sleep, sometimes he’d walk down the hallway and stand outside your bedroom door. it brought him some peace knowing you were sleeping; safe from any harm and the thought would bring a small smile to his face
❥ when the scouts go on expeditions outside the walls, he’s secretly a worried mess. he’s constantly looking over his shoulder at you, checking to make sure you’re okay. when the titans break your formation and you get separated, even through the fight you’re the only thing on his mind. he knows you can handle yourself but it doesn’t keep him from worrying. and when he hurt his foot and couldn’t join you on an expedition?!? oh he was filled with worry; with regret. i should’ve gone anyways. ignore the pain and fight through it. he’d pray you, (and everyone else) makes it back safely.
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daisynik7 · 11 months
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you’re killing me with all this angst!! 😭 any possible unrequited but happy ending with Eren when you have the time and will? Or just anything fluffy really, just to put a dinosaur print bandaid on all the broken hearts 😭
🎶 You've got my heart bursting at the seams, maybe you're the boy of my dreams. 🎶
Title: Dream Boy
Pairing: jock!Eren x shy!reader
Word Count: ~3.5k
cw: unrequited crush, fluff, college au
Summary: You’ve had a crush on Eren Jaeger for a while now. He’s the captain of your university’s swim team who also happens to be a fellow engineering major, like you. For months, you’ve admired from afar, letting yourself daydream about being his girlfriend. But that’s all it is: fantasy. Until one day, when you’re invited to a beach outing with friends, and he happens to be there too. 
Author’s Notes: Thanks for the request, anon! Going with a common trope here, hope you don’t mind! I’ve always been a sucker for popular jock x shy nerd, so I hope you like this one! Also, fair warning, I have never surfed in my life, and I had to do some research on this, so major apologies if I got any of these details wrong, please don’t be mean to me LOL. Title is inspired by the song "Dream Boy" by Beach Bunny! Listen if you want to set the mood right. Divider credit to @/saradika.
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With the weather getting warmer and the sun shining brighter, a trip to the beach sounds like the perfect idea to get away. Midterms just ended and finals are fast approaching in a few weeks. This is the only weekend when it makes sense to relax before you have to start the grind once more.  
It’s your roommate, Sasha, who originally plans this little weekend getaway. When you’re not too busy studying, you’re hanging out with her. She’s become your closest friend since you first lived with her freshman year, always friendly and making the effort to include you in all her social affairs, even when you decline so often. Through her, you met Mikasa and Annie, who have been nothing but kind to you, despite having strong personalities. You’re excited to get to know them even better by going on this trip with them.
With Annie’s car packed with all of your belongings, the four of you set out on the hour-long journey. Mikasa offered her parent’s beach house to stay at which works out perfectly for broke college students. Using your meal plans, you collectively purchased enough snacks and beverages to last the next two nights. So far, everything is working out swimmingly. 
You arrive to your destination, stoked to be spending the weekend with the beach as your backyard. Mikasa points out the other car parked in the driveway, groaning. “Oh no. Eren’s here. And he probably brought the rest of the boys.”
Sasha turns to face her. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“That’s his car. And those are their surfboards on the rack. They’re definitely here.”
Your roommate directs her question at you. “Are you okay with this?”
You smile, a little taken aback that you’ll be sharing a home with a few strangers, but fine overall. “Yeah, should be fun. By the way, who’s Eren?”
“Eren Jaeger, my brother.”
Upon hearing his full name, you do your best to swallow the strangled noise in your throat, playing it cool. Eren Jaeger? Captain of the school’s swim team? Fellow engineering student and your classmate for two of your current courses, three last semester? The guy you’ve had the hugest crush on since you first laid eyes on him freshmen year, when you used to live a floor above him? That Eren Jaeger? 
“Oh, cool,” you say, totally not meaning it. Still, you have to keep your composure. Knowing this information has you feeling self-conscious. You didn’t pack your best clothes, under the impression this was just a girl’s trip. And you realize that he might see you in your swimsuit, which you’re horrified about. Internally, you’re freaking out, unprepared for this recent development. You contemplate calling a taxi, faking an illness to avoid any possible embarrassment you’ll display in front of him. Before you can, Sasha drags you into the house, both your bags in hand, announcing your arrival. “Eren! We know you’re in here!”
Mikasa and Annie follow, carrying the rest of the luggage with them, inspecting the house. “Hey, Jaeger. Get out here,” Annie demands.
He strolls in from one of the hallways, hair down, in a white t-shirt and basketball shorts, slides on his feet. Looking as cool and attractive as ever. You hide behind Sasha, cheeks already hot. 
“What are you doing here?” he asks Mikasa, placing a hair tie between his lips, fingers running through his hair to put it up in a ponytail. 
“Carla and Grisha said I could use the house for the weekend. What are you doing here?”
“Brought the boys to surf and chill. I guess I should have asked Mom and Dad first.” He shrugs, unfazed.
Mikasa rolls her eyes. “You should have told me you were coming. I have guests.”
He glances at the rest of you. “So? It’s just Sasha and Annie. What’s the big deal?”
“My roommate’s here too!” Sasha mentions, stepping aside to reveal you. “And it’s weird sharing a house with boys!” 
You give him a small wave, a weak grin on your face. “Hello.”
He steps towards you, squinting as if he’s studying you carefully. “Hey! It’s you!”
You blurt out a confused, “Huh?”
He says your full name, shocking you further, before he continues. “You’re in my class. Physics and Materials Science, right?”
You’re surprised that he recognizes you, that he even knows your name. Up until this point, you were convinced that you were invisible to him. You nod, momentarily speechless when he smiles at you. “I’m sorry for showing up like this. We can leave if you want us to.”
“Yeah, maybe you should,” Annie comments, crossing her arms over her chest. 
Before anyone else can speak, you say, “It’s okay. You don’t have to leave.” If you’re going to grow up and move on from this crush, you can’t chicken out on things like this. And besides, you don’t want to be the one person who ruins all the fun. 
“Are you sure? It’s not a big deal. It’s just an hour drive. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.”
“It’s fine. The more the merrier, right?”
He grins. “As long as you’re okay with this.”
Mikasa, on the other hand, says, “Well, what if I’m not okay with this.”
“Fine. Then you be the one to kick out Jean. He was really looking forward to surfing today.” At the mention of that name, Mikasa blushes, not responding. The rest of you girls have an idea about Mikasa’s crush on Jean, so it’s not surprising when she doesn’t pester Eren anymore. Even Annie’s eyes light up when Armin comes out of one of the rooms, greeting you. 
After settling in, everyone gathers in the living room, planning what to do next. Collectively, you agree to head outside to relax on the beach while the boys surf. You try to contain your excitement at seeing Eren in a skin-tight body suit, holding onto the giant board, hair tied in a messy bun like a male model for Billabong. 
You lay towels and blankets all around the sand, setting up umbrellas to block out the blistering sun. Annie dumps all the snacks in the middle, while the four of you stretch out comfortably. You hide yourself under a towel, self-conscious about in a bathing suit in front of Eren, who probably doesn’t notice anyways. 
Sasha plays music on her Bluetooth speaker while you and Mikasa open your books, reading. Annie watches a movie on her phone, headphones plugged in. An hour later, Eren comes running up from the shore, dripping with ocean water, hair matted, still gorgeous. He glances at you first, flashing his brilliant smile. “Hey, do you want to try?” He knocks his fist against the surfboard, waiting for your answer.
“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll be good at it. In fact, I think I’ll be very, very bad at it,” you admit.
“It’s okay. I can just show you how to sit on it. We won’t actually ride the big waves. You know how to swim, right?”
You nod, placing your book in your bag. This is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially since it means quality time with him. However, you can’t help but feel nervous, expecting to make a fool of yourself. Sasha encourages you. “You should go try it! It’ll be fun.”
Mikasa adds, “Yeah, Eren is surprisingly a good teacher.”
Convinced, you stand up, hesitantly letting the towel fall to expose yourself in your swimsuit. You avoid his gaze, too flustered worrying about what he thinks of you. He leads the way to the shore, you following close behind him. The rest of the guys sit on the sand next to their boards, chatting. When they see you, they wave, giving you some motivating thumbs up. 
Eren turns to face you, pausing. “First, you have to attach the leash.” He squats down, hands near your foot, peering up at you. “Do you mind?”
Unaware of what the leash even is, you remain calm, trying to ignore your excitement with him this close to your bare skin. “Go ahead.”
He wraps the Velcro around your ankle, fingers brushing against you delicately. He readjusts it three times, asking on the third, “Is this too tight?”
“No,” you answer, still staring out towards the sea, unable to meet his gaze.
He stands back up to explain the basics of surfing. It’s all too much to retain in a short amount of time, but you listen and appreciate how well he describes each step, memorizing the most important details. 
“We should practice getting on the board first before we enter,” he suggests, placing it flat on the sand, beckoning you to get on it. “Just lay on it, face down, and get used to how it feels against your body.” You get down, pressing your stomach to the deck, gripping to the sides. 
“Good job.” He squats again, level with you. “Once we’re in the water, you’re gonna want to move fast. You have to push the board forward against the force of the waves, then quickly hop on. It might be a little tough, but I know you can do it. The waves are strong, so if you can’t get the timing right, make sure you lift your board up with the peak and hold on tight, so that you don’t get dragged with it.”
You nod, getting increasingly anxious. With the information locked in your brain, you follow Eren into the ocean, board floating steadily on the surface, your hand on the center. He isn’t exaggerating; the waves are intense, even the tiny ones close to shore. Once you are waist deep, Eren, who’s farther away from you now, turns up the volume of his voice louder, cupping one hand around his mouth, the other pointing to the incoming wave. “It’s coming!”
It approaches fast, almost too quickly. Before you know it, the force drags you backwards, falling in. Wet from head to toe now, you resurface, grabbing the board to reposition yourself, grasping both the tail and the deck, remembering his instructions from earlier. 
“Are you okay?” he yells out, concerned.
“Yeah!” you respond, preparing for the next one. With more determination and confidence, you push forward, hopping on successfully when the wave rushes in. 
“Great job!” he exclaims from behind you. Your chest swells with adrenaline and pride. There’s no time to waste as the next wave approaches. The next task is to straddle. You get in a push-up pose, grasping the side rails. It’s not enough though; it slides out from under you, knocking you back, a stream of salty water flushing your nose causing you to choke momentarily. Eren ruses over as fast as he can, waddling in the water, worried. “Are you okay?”
You laugh, an electrifying buzz coursing through your body. “Yeah! Let me try again.”
He smiles brightly, amused by your resolve. “Okay. Hold on really tight and make sure to slide the board slightly forward as you sit up.”
It takes you a couple more tries, salt water now burning your nose and throat, until you finally manage to straddle the board. You raise your fists in the air, turning your neck to face him. “I did it!”
Beaming, mimicking your celebratory gesture, he happily yells, “You did!” When the waves come, you and the board flow with it, bobbing up and down on the water. After minutes of struggling, covered in sweat, dripping with ocean water, you finally feel at peace. You enjoy riding a few more waves, dehydration slowly sinking in, surely from all the salt you’ve unintentionally swallowed. You glance at Eren, who’s watching you from a short distance away. “I think I’m good for the day! I need some water.”
He walks over, standing next to you. “Oh yeah, definitely. Great job, by the way. That was awesome seeing you like that.” He pats you gently on your knee, grinning. 
You giggle. “Thank you. So, uh, how do I get off this thing?”
“Well, this is going to the last thing I teach you, okay? You’re going to paddle out and towards the shore. Think you can do it?”
With whatever leftover determination you have, you nod, leaning your chest down to the board. He helps you readjust yourself so that you’re facing the sands. “The wave is coming! Get ready to paddle!”
Like a dog trying to swim, you flail your arms as if your life depends on it, successfully riding the wave until it comes to a stop on the shore. Armin, Connie, and Jean, witnessing this still sat in the same spot, cheer. When you stand up, your equilibrium is all off, losing balance. Luckily, Eren runs up to catch you, steadying you. “That was awesome. You did so good!”
Catching your breath, tired from all the physical exertion and adrenaline, you breathe out, “Thank you,” giving him a weak smile. The two of you walk to the rest of your friends, Eren’s hand on your back, in case you lose balance again. As you approach the girls, they applaud, beaming with joy. 
“That was epic!” Sasha exclaims, handing you a water bottle. 
Suddenly, he’s gripping your shoulders, squeezing affectionately. “She’s the best. Never gave up, totally committed.” He turns his head to look at you, voice lower, speaking directly to you. “You were really great out there. I mean it. I never doubted you for a second. You’re the smartest person in class, so I knew this would be a piece of cake for you.”  
His last statement almost leaves you speechless. Voice trembling from exhaustion and his kind words, you reply, “Thank you. You’re a really great teacher.”
He gazes at you, seemingly forever, sliding his hands down to your elbows, lingering for just a moment longer until he lets you go. Clearing his throat, he announces, “I’m going to catch a few more waves with the guys. I’ll see y’all later.” Is it your imagination or is there a slight blush on his cheeks? It’s most likely from the sun, so you disregard it, not wanting to get your hopes up. 
You spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing beside your friends, like you had originally planned. The novel you started earlier is open in your hands, your mind definitely not focused on the words. Instead, you daydream about Eren, relishing what just occurred. All those times in class, fantasizing about different scenarios with him, always convinced that nothing would ever happen. Now, you can’t help letting your imagination run rampant. Still, when you all pack up to take the short trip back to the house, you let those fantasies disappear. There’s no way he feels anything for you beyond friendship. And you’ll just have to live with that. 
Later in the night, with everyone sun-kissed and clean from beach residue, you collectively decide to get cozy in your pajamas. Mikasa ignites the fire pit out on the balcony, perfect for the cool breeze. When four boxes of pizza are delivered, the eight of you huddle around the flames, enjoying the meal as you laugh at the stories being shared. Connie tells a hilarious tale about him and Jean streaking in the dead of night for a dare that resulting in almost exposing themselves to the university’s president. Annie mentions her roommate, Hitch, and how she slapped a creeper at a frat party, who wouldn’t stop annoying her. Sasha asks for advice on how to approach her crush, Nicolo, the young chef at the campus cafeteria who makes her breakfast burritos especially tasty. 
After a while, Eren suggests, “How about some s’mores? I brought the ingredients to make them. What do you say?”
Everyone hums in agreement. He directs his attention to you. “Can you help me in the kitchen?”
You obliged, surprised that he chose you specifically. Following him, you slide the door closed, quiet inside the house except for the muffled voices of your friends outside. In the kitchen, he reaches up for one of the cabinets, grabbing two bags of marshmallows, two big bricks of chocolate, and a box of graham crackers. In another drawer, he retrieves metal sticks to roast the marshmallows. In the meantime, you search for a large baking tray, eventually retrieving it from the oven. “Maybe we can set everything up on here so that It’s easier.”
He smiles at you. “Good idea.”
At the counter, you start unwrapping the chocolate, breaking them into sectioned pieces. Eren does the same with the graham crackers, the two of you working beside each other in a comfortable silence. Halfway through, he asks, “Did you have fun today?”
“Yeah, I had a lot of fun! Thank you again. I really had a blast.”
“I did too. It was a lot of fun hanging out with you today.”
“Maybe next time, I can actually learn how to surf for real,” you say, not thinking anything of it. 
He leans closer to you, arm brushing yours as you lay out the chocolate on the pan. “Yeah, next time.”
It’s silent again. You finish the chocolate, washing your hands clean to move on to the marshmallows. One bag in your hand, the other in Eren’s. “So, um, do you have a boyfriend or something?”
This catches you off guard. “No, I don’t.”
“Cool, cool, cool. I’m single too. In case you were wondering.” You’ve never heard this type of nervous energy in his voice before. It’s unusual to hear him like this. You’re unsure how to respond, unprepared for where this conversation is possibly heading. 
“Well, if you ever need someone to study with, I’m always available. The season is over, and I get tired of my teammates sometimes,” he says with a laugh.
“Do you want to study with me?” you ask, genuinely curious.
“I’d like to do a lot of things with you, actually.” There’s an undeniable blush on his cheeks as he pours the remaining marshmallows onto the tray. This can’t be just a sunburn, can it? 
Butterflies flutter in your belly. You look at him, smiling. You can’t chicken out now. Not when he’s giving you this chance, this opportunity. You need to go for it. “Can I be honest with you?”
He faces you, eager. “Of course.”
Sucking in a deep breath for this leap of faith, you confess. “I’ve had the biggest crush on you ever since freshman year.”
His smile widens, brilliant teeth on display. “What? When we used to live at Reiss?”
“You remember?” Your mouth hangs open, shocked that he recalls living in the same dorm as you. 
“Yeah, I do,” he answers. “You’re a hard one to forget.”
“I thought I was invisible.”
He shifts closer, tipping his head to meet your eyes. “Not to me.”
You face him, understanding that he’s always noticed you. He leans forward, lips inches from yours. “Can I be honest with you, too?” You nod, desperate to hear what he has to say.
Even closer now, lips grazing your ear, breath ticklish on your skin, he whispers, “I really like you. I’ve always been too nervous to do anything. I thought you’d only see me as a dumb jock.”
Immediately, you pull back, replying, “Never! I never thought that of you! I think you’re so smart.”
He laughs, eyes crinkled with admiration. “I think you’re so smart, too. And really, really cute.” 
You stare at each other for a moment, wishing this would last forever. Wanting to pinch yourself to confirm this is real. 
“Is it okay if I kiss you?” The pink hue on his cheeks gradually turns into a red.
A little too eager, you respond, “Yes!”, resulting in him giggling again, pressing his forehead to yours. The contact sets your skin on fire, body tingling with a different type of adrenaline than from earlier. With your eyes shut, you close the gap, lips brushing seamlessly into a delicate kiss. His hand slides behind your neck, sending you shivers as he pulls you in closer.
Suddenly, there’s loud banging on the sliding door, startling you two apart. Mikasa and Annie have their fists on the glass, yelling out something incoherent, Armin tugging on their sleeves in an attempt to stop them. Connie, Jean, and Sasha holler with huge grins on their faces. 
Eren laughs, shaking his head. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” you respond, smiling at him. 
You gaze at each other for another couple of seconds, cherishing this special moment before returning outside to your friends, carrying the goods. They all talk at once, hyped about what they just witnessed, berating you with loads of questions and advice. You and Eren sit beside each other, politely redirecting each inquiry and comment until your friends get tired of non-answers, eventually changing the subject. He lays out a warm blanket for the both of you, legs covered, knees touching while everyone begins to roast their marshmallows.
By the time the s’mores are completely assembled, mouths sticky and full of ooey-gooey sweetness, you and Eren munch on your treats happily, holding hands beneath the blanket. 
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