empty spaces ~ armin x reader

chapter eight // retribution

a/n: it's currently exam week, but while i was taking my world history exam, i was writing out this chapter in my head. just to be clear, y/n blames armin for not speaking to her for weeks, which she expressed concern about on the airship. after seeing him at the bar she believed everything he told her was a lie. he indirectly said that he wanted her then brushed her aside and treated her like she was someone else. in this chapter, she wants to provoke him into showing her his true feelings.  

ANOTHER NOTE, the smut is very, VERY close. this chapter is just a preview of it. i believe all the eren simps will like this chapter very much. ;)

WARNING: you may not want to read this chapter if you're sitting next to someone because that may be awkward.

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𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓵𝓭 𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷'𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼

𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓱𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼, 𝓲𝓯 𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓸 𝓫𝓪𝓭?

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"Steal his heart," Mikasa spoke softly into my ear.

I glanced at Mikasa's delicate features in the mirror's reflection as she swept my hair back. She looked breathtaking in her ruby slip dress. Her toned arms looked deadly in a new way tonight. If looks alone could kill, her's would desolate masses. As she wrapped them around my waist, I had the unambiguous thought that I had picked the wrong friend to be my date tonight.

"I want to steal yours," Jean smirked as he leaned against the door frame with his shirt partially unbuttoned.

Mikasa turned back towards him and her ruby-painted lips softened into a smile. Jean looked at his partner like she was a fresh-cut diamond.

The looks exchanged between these lovers made me involuntarily think of Armin. I thought back to kissing him in the airship, and the way he held me like glass. The memory burned in my mind as it carried a feeling of regret. Those moments made me believe for a second that it hadn't been an illusion. That I hadn't dreamt about the part where he loved me back. After seeing him drunkenly standing in that alley, I no longer knew for sure. Tonight, despite everything that had happened, I wanted to know if he had given all of that up.

"Will you help me put on my dress?" I asked, fracturing the steady silence.

"Of course," Mikasa consented and guided me towards the closet. She held the gown deftly so it wouldn't wrinkle.

I tossed my striped clothing in a pile at my feet as she moved the gown over my head, careful to keep my hair from being tampered with. We adjusted ends that were too tight or too loose until they hung on me perfectly. Mikasa stepped back and sucked in a breath.

"If revenge is what you seek, then you could not have picked a better dress."

The comment satisfied me because I'd decided that I'd had my heart broken for the last time. Tonight I was out for retribution.

***

Our entrance led to quite a stir.

Officials' stances went rigid. The guest's craned their necks to observe. One lady lost her grip on her drink, and crystal glass smeared across the floor. At the center of it all, Queen Historia lifted her hand to welcome us to her baby shower. Commander Hange stood by her side.

If she was surprised to see Eren Yeager at my side, she didn't show it.

"I had a feeling you would be here," she said.