empty spaces ~ armin x reader

chapter eight // retribution

Over the last few months, Historia's petite frame had swollen as a fetus grew inside. Still, she managed to look profoundly regal. Her cheeks were glowing under the luminous chandelier. The dress she wore hugged her belly, so her pregnancy could be seen. She reminded me of a goddess.

I instinctively kneeled down before her, and Eren did the same.

"Thank you for letting me celebrate this momentous occasion," he said with a tight-lipped smile, which she returned.

"Thanks for your peaceful cooperation," Commander Hange added.

Even as we left Commander Hange's and Queen Historia's presence, eyes were still trained on us. I had brought in a war criminal to the very heart of Eldia. This would not have been possible if it wasn't for Floch's insubordination. The news about Eren Yeager's transgression and his detainment was not public knowledge. Eren was "unhinged and dangerous", according to Commander Hange. The Yeagerists, as they were called, worshiped Eren like a Savior. In the past week alone, they've turned our government on its head. Floch and his damn cronies had released private information about Eren's containment to the public and leveraged it to paint the government imprudent. Riots swarmed the buildings to the point where we had no options left at our disposal. Eren was released for this night only to pacify them for a short while. We wouldn't be so foolish to let him roam free though, so I volunteered to keep him on a leash.

My fingers drifted to the knife strapped to my thigh. It was a precaution in case I needed to carve his heart out to avoid any casualty.

"Y/n," he whispered into my ear, close enough that it made me reel backward from surprise. Amusement twinkled in his eyes as he watched me try to recompose myself.

"What?"

"I know the real reason you wanted me at your side tonight."

As he said it, my attention latched on the boy observing us from the other end of the room. His posture was rippled with shock and his mouth hung open. There was a person at his side talking eagerly, but I knew he wasn't listening to a word of it. He was captured in an expression of disbelief.

"I'm willing to play along," Eren finally said as his hand boldly seized my waist. He led me towards the servers and watched me choose from the platters.

I went straight for the wine, but he held his hand out. I gave him a look.

"What the fuck is your issue?" I bit out.

He shook his head and offered me a champagne glass from the nearest server. I accepted it with bewilderment. I didn't understand what he was trying to accomplish, but I was long past attempting to figure him out.

"I heard you've been busy," Eren began, initiating our first official conversation.

"Well, I've got my hands full with a certain war criminal at the moment," I deadpanned.

He smiled as if I'd just said something funny.

"What?" I asked, tilting my drink against my lips. He does the same.

"Nothing." He downed his champagne in one sip.

Eren stepped closer to me so our legs were touching. The slip in my dress made it so my calf grazed the coarse fabric of his pant leg. I looked at him then I looked at where we were connected.

He laughed. "Shit, y/n, you're as stiff as Annie in her crystal. If you want people to believe our act you've got to act infatuated with me."

But I wasn't infatuated with him, I was in love with his best friend.