Complexity- Armin x Reader

Chapter 20: In Retrograde

"A castle for the crabs!"

The blonde laughed warmly at the girl's random idea, finding it to be just as crazy as her usual antics. He went along with it.

"With a moat and everything?"

"Uh-huh!" Y/n nodded, hyper. "I'm thinking maybe something small, not too big. But cozy! Somewhere they can rest their little crab legs at."

Armin crouched down and observed Y/n's rough castle foundations. He couldn't help but snicker a bit every time Y/n's sand molds would crumble apart. The girl glanced up with her bright, optimistic eyes and met Armin's own.

"Will you help me, Min?"

Y/n gave her friend a gleeful look, acting exactly like how Armin remembered her to have been when they first came to the beach about two years ago.

Peppy.

He loved that Y/n loved coming to the beach just as much as he did. It was something that made him feel even more connected to the girl.

Rolling up the sleeves of his white, unbuttoned shirt, he flashed a smile over at Y/n with the same amount of childish joy bubbling up in his chest. He felt light and airy.

"What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help you out?"

Nearing about half an hour later, the two had built a sizable structure of sand and seashells that they deemed to be worthy enough for any wandering crustaceans.

Y/n recited a speech to no one in general, speaking with grandiose words and calling out to all of the crabs of Paradis Coast.

"Hear ye, hear ye, all you weary crabs of this fair beach," she said in a faux English accent.

"Oh my God, Y/n."

Armin covered his face and looked on at the girl through the cracks between his fingers. He tried his best to quelle his laughter.

"I now declare this castle, fit for kings, to be open!"

The girl had her arms outstretched and in the air, and she turned to look at Armin, triumphantly smiling.

"Open the gates, Armin."

The blonde chuckled and bowed.

"Yes, your Highness."

He moved to crouch down by their miniature castle and opened up their comically small gates that they had made out of brittle seashells. As soon as Armin pulled the shells apart, a piece of the castle crumbled off and splattered down against the ground. The two teens took a moment of silence to look down at the smashed piece. 

"Well, fuck." Armin cursed, laughing and leaning back in defeat as he looked at the mess he made.

Y/n dropped her majestic act and doubled down into a fit of laughter. She moved to sit next to the blonde and nudged his shoulder with her own.

"You had one job, Armin," she said between her chortling.

"I'm sorry." He looked over at the girl and jokingly begged for forgiveness.

Y/n, momentarily forgetting that she was on a mission to get over her crush, laid her head down on Armin's shoulder and giggled. She calmed her laughs, and so did Armin.

"It's ok. That was pretty funny, though."

"Yeah."

Armin breathed out quietly in content as he felt the weight of Y/n's head on his shoulder. He laid his own head on top of hers as the two marveled at their shitty sand castle.