empty spaces ~ armin x reader

chapter nine // retribution (armin's version)

a/n: this chapter was supposed to have smut at the end, but it would've made this chapter REALLY long. i had to split it up so this chapter wouldn't be 10,000 words long. also i'm not going to have time to write next week, so i'll just save it for next week's post.

i love writing armin's pov because this man has so many levels to his existence. next chapter i'll be able to show more of his manipulative side. this chapter you get to see his little bi panic when he sees y/n and eren together. 

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𝓲'𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓰𝓲𝓻𝓵 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓼𝓸 𝔀𝓱𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓸 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷?

𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓰𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓪 𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓹𝓲𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓰𝓸𝓽?

𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓶𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓲𝓷'

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I was deep in conversation with the Garrison Captain when the atmosphere shifted. I didn't need to see the cause of the sudden development with my eyes to recognize the effects. The air shifted as conversations were muted. Training led me to pick up on social cues instantaneously.

Captain Weilman sighed and continued his discussion about increasing security around the base in Wall Sina. I nodded as his drawl slipped over my head. Curiosity besieged my mind as I watched each neck crane towards the heart of the grand hall. The silence was replaced with whispers that screamed of infidelity.

"We need augmented security to subdue the crowds. I swear to the fucking goddess, if the Military Police doesn't get their shit in check–" I subconsciously muffled his voice.

I pressed my lips together. "Yeah, uh– give em' hell..."

"That motherfucking Eren Yeager is really popular, ain't he?"

Eren Yeager.

Then it became clear. The shift. The uproar. It was all him, but that wasn't all.

My heart caught in my throat as my delayed perception finally caught up to me. It was like I was a witness to a crime scene. I could still imagine the blood on her face from my attempt to attend to her injuries that led to her tongue in my mouth. Now all I could see was crimson red blood as I watched Eren place his hands on y/n's waist and pull her towards him. I noted the deceit in his eyes as their legs tangled together. I instinctively wanted him dead for having the nerve.

"Speak of the devil," I responded.

At the same time, I was starstruck. Murderous intent and adoration burned through me. I had never seen y/n go this far before. She was ethereal in a mauve dress that fell to the floor. A strip of skin was exposed on one side from her hip to her ankles. It revealed her entire thigh if she angled it a specific way. I was accustomed to seeing her in khakis and green capes. This was a notable difference from sweltering gear. It was almost like she was trying to take on the shape of another being. She didn't want to be deeply understood, so she was always adjusting herself. She wanted to be seen, but without being known for who she really was. She was an utter mystery.

"Was this their brilliant idea of getting the Yeagerists to shut the hell up? Bringing a war criminal to a pregnancy party? I hope he knows the hell he's causing," Captain Weilman scowled.

I thought about it for a second before it clicked. Eren wasn't here to be with y/n. His presence was a political power play, which relaxed me a little bit. The protesters wanted him released, and a semi-public appearance like this could raise approval in the government's authority. Not everyone was sold by this though, so y/n was there to keep him from doing something reckless, like contacting his brother. It was the only explanation that came to my mind, but the physical display still didn't make sense to me.