empty spaces ~ armin x reader

chapter eight // retribution

I was furious with Armin. He'd kissed my scars then left me to bleed. The stolen kisses were like fragments of an incomplete puzzle. Annie was his endgame and I was filling up the empty spaces in her absence. If he truly meant what he said then seeing me with Eren wouldn't sway him in the least, but if he didn't then...

"In that case, we're going to need more drinks."

I'd break his heart like he broke mine.

With my new drink in hand, stronger than the previous one, I grabbed Eren and pulled him over to a table where we put on our award-winning performance. I explained to him everything that went to shit after he left. He told me about his experiences in Marley. We went back and forth, venting our struggles until we got around to the uncomfortable stuff.

"Jean and Mikasa." He said it like a statement, but it was clearly a question.

My gaze landed on them talking with Commander Pixis. They both seemed very relaxed in the other's arms. Jean leaned against Mikasa as they both talked earnestly.

I swirled my drink around with an understanding frown. "Together."

Eren's face didn't change, except I could see the little light left in his eye dim.

"Good for them."

That was where we left that topic before I decided this wasn't where either of us wanted the night to go. We didn't want to linger on the subject of our past loves that never made it. With this in mind, I took him to the center of the grand hall for his benefit. The alcohol had claimed my actions as I pulled Eren tightly to my chest. We danced with our lungs expanding and contracting at the same pace. I could even feel the subtle pounding of his chest beneath his freshly pressed suit. I melted into his warmth and let the red flags wave in the distance as I closed any space between us.

Red. I loved the color, but nothing could ever compete with the color blue. That night I wore both.

Eren's hands trailed down my purple dress. He touched the places where it hugged my curves. They planted themselves just below my hip where the fabric bunched up to expose my leg. He sifted the gauzy fabric through his fingers like it was water before clutching it in his fists. The whole show was intoxicating and I endured every second of it as lust slowly built itself inside me. I looked around and, as I had hoped, all eyes were directed on us. My eyes drifted over to Armin, who I had purposely avoided staring at due to the way it caused my heart to ache. Our eyes met and he consequently flushed, but I stayed steady. I kept looking at him as I leaned my head on Eren's shoulder.

"They're watching us," Eren breathed into my ear.

The people I worked closely with were here, but I no longer cared. My friends were watching me. Perhaps they would finally realize that I'm truly no better than the boy dancing with me.

"Scared of the attention?" I countered. He huffed a laugh, which I felt reverberate in my chest, and trailed a teasing hand down my exposed thigh.

"Perhaps I underestimated you, y/n."

They all did.

Armin seemed to lose his balance as he observed our sultry show. He gripped a chair to keep himself upright as his cheeks burned. Beneath his usual seriousness, it was strange to see him this caught off guard. Bumping into him at the bar was one thing, but tonight it was something different. His eyes flitted between us like he was watching two forces clash together. His eyebrows furrowed together calculating. Seeing him look at me like that caused a flutter to build between my legs.

Then I felt lips on my neck, grazing against my spiking pulse. My breathing hitched as Eren lowered his lips against my delicate skin. He wasted no time being gentle. Instead of a taste, he took a bite. His teeth clamped down as if he couldn't hold himself back.

God, I despised him too for everything he put the Survey Corps through. I wanted to smack him across the face for every dickheaded thing he'd ever done. The list of men who had fucked me over was ever-growing, but that didn't stop me from wanting them to touch me.

I closed my eyes and thought about Armin touching me like this. Our kiss in the airship had been passionate, but it was nothing like this. His hands weren't running up and down my thigh to the sound of an orchestra carrying our combined breaths in the music. I wanted him too though. I wanted him to fill that empty space between us and pull me into oblivion. I wanted to drink him in as I had done so many times in my dreams these past few weeks.

"I- I think I need to use the restroom," I said awkwardly, looking for an escape.

"Wait," Eren said, pulling back his tongue from my sensitive neck. I obeyed as both our attentions landed on Armin. He was now standing before us.

"Want to join us?" Eren asked, causing my mouth to drop open.

"Perhaps another time," Armin told him with a shared smile. A smile that I knew was more than just friendly. "I was wondering if I could steal y/n away from you."

"Y/n is her own decision-maker. You will have to ask her," Eren answered, and a part of me softened.

Armin and Eren both looked towards me with awaiting expressions and I had never been more lost. Maybe it was the alcohol making my mind more muddled than usual, but I could not figure out Armin's objective or what his smile meant.

I desperately wanted to find out.

"What will you do?" I asked Eren.

Eren shrugged. "I've got to go back to my cell soon if I'm going to make it in time."

I didn't know what arrangement he had coming up, but I didn't question it. My brain was too overstimulated to process it anyway.

I made sure a guard standing on duty could walk Eren back to his cell before returning to the boy waiting patiently.

"Ready?" he asked, holding out his hand.

I nodded as he led both of us out into the starry night.