Broken

Constellations

I laughed pitifully. "Now I k-know why."

Eren pulled away enough to look me in the eyes. He took my face in his hands and gave me a soft smile. "This is gonna sound cliché, but he doesn't deserve you. You are way out of his league."

I chuckled and he grinned. "But seriously. Armin, look at me."

I did, seeing a familiar shimmer in emerald eyes. "You are the most incredible person in the entire world. And if that asshole thinks he can mess with you, he's got another thing coming. I will personally go over there and help you kick his ass. He doesn't have the right to treat you like this. Like you're an item he can throw away when he wants to. You are so much more than that, you hear me?"

I smiled softly before furrowing my brow. "You're just saying that because you hate his guts."

"Oh I most definitely hate his guts," Eren said, causing me to laugh before he shifted to look at me. "Armin, I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly special you are."

I gave him a look. "You are. I know that's overused and underrated, and I wish I was as good with words as you are. I wish you believed everything I'm telling you, but I don't know how to make that happen. But whether you believe me or not, just listen to me,"

He tucked a piece of blond hair behind my ear and gave me a serious look. "Remember all those constellations you showed me when we kids? And you told me those stories about greeks gods and war heroes?"

I nodded. "And then one night you told me you wished you could bring stars down from the sky so you could see one. You wanted to see Antares because it was the brightest in your zodiac and it was always there when we went camping."

I blushed slightly in embarrassment at the memory. He smiled and let out a breathy laugh. "I never told you this, but for the next three months or so, I was determined to get you that star. I stayed up late at night, researching, making blueprints for machines, mapping the constellations so I could plan the perfect time to pull it from the sky."

I stared at him in shock, observing the sudden glimmer in his eyes and feeling something flutter in my chest. "And then everything was ready and I went out and climbed the tallest tree I could find, ready to test out my invention and get Antares to give to you. Of course, it failed and I ended up falling. That's how I broke my arm."

He had told me he broke it during a game of soccer. I felt my heart warm. "The point is I spent all that time and put all that work into it because it was for you. And whether or not you believe me when I say you are the best thing that's ever happened to me and deserve the world, just know that no matter what happens, I will be here to move heaven and earth for you if you need it."

I felt my eyes water and smiled genuinely before tackling him in a hug. He returned the gesture and ran a hand through my hair. "Thank you," I whispered, squeezing him tighter. He returned the pressure.

~~~

It took me awhile to calm down completely, but once I did, Eren offered me some of his clothes to wear to bed. He tossed me an old t-shirt and some basketball shorts and after thanking him, I hurried to the bathroom to change. His clothes were a bit baggy on me and despite the uncomfortable twist of my stomach from the events at the house, I smiled to myself. I turned on the faucet and splashed cool water on my face, rubbing over my eyes and wiping away the dried tears. I shut it off and looked up at myself in the mirror. My eyes were swollen and red, but I felt more or less refreshed. Everything seemed much better after talking to Eren. As always.

When I dried off, I walked back into the living room to see Eren standing there, staring at the sheets thrown haphazardly over the couch. "What is it?" I asked and he turned to me, pointing at the makeshift bed. "I'm not sure you should sleep there." he said and I smiled. "Eren, I told you, it's fine."

"But I feel awful. I don't want you to sleep on this crappy couch after what happened."

"Technically, I showed up here uninvited, so I should get the couch."

"Technically, I'm the one who lives here and I say you shouldn't get the couch."

I chuckled despite myself. "Seriously, Min. I'll sleep here, you can sleep in my room."

"Eren, no, I can't do that."

"You want me to go with you?"

I didn't respond and he smiled. "Come on, I'll cuddle with you."

I giggled and followed him up the stairs and to his room. I sank into the mattress and let out a sigh as he turned off the lights and climbed under the covers next to me. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him, fitting us together like a jigsaw puzzle. After laying there a moment, I spoke up, my voice strange in the silence. "You offered to take the couch just so you could cuddle, didn't you?" I asked with a smirk that was hidden in the dark. He hesitated and I felt his lips curve into a smile against the back of my neck. "Maybe."

I chuckled, readjusting and scooting closer to him. "You know, you could've asked."

He hummed distantly. I yawned and my eyelids felt suddenly heavy. I shut my eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep to the sound of my own steady heartbeat.