[For the moment, it is unwelcome. He goes stiff when she touches him, frozen there in place. He's mortified. He's disgusted. The memory doesn't sadden him; it infuriates him. How could he let that slip through? How could he show them both that?
[He waits for her to pull away. Eren is shifting in his lap. The perfect detraction.
[Almost idly - it sounds bizarrely numb for Armin:]
[When Aubrey reaches for Eren's cheek, he reaches for hers. He can't help but give her his gaze for a moment. It feels like it's been days since he saw her last. How long was he asleep?
[He pushes himself up, Armin bracing him as he awkwardly twists himself out of their laps so he can sit on the ground himself. Once he settles, he points his stare at Armin.]
[Eren doesn't see much point in arguing. Armin is right. That memory is years old. Still, it makes Eren's heart twist with shame. How much time did Armin spend smacking himself in front of mirrors? And Eren never knew.
[He looks at Aubrey, seeking to exchange a glance. Maybe they both know that they won't get anywhere with him like this...]
How long was I asleep? [As if time can really be quantified here.]
[It's worth mentioning that, once the concern for Armin fades from Eren's face, he looks exhausted - exactly as if he had been sleeping for several days. He can't fight off a yawn, which he doesn't bother covering.
[Does he remember anything? His brow furrows with focus.]
I was dreaming...[But he never quite remembers exactly what he dreamt about.]
[The yawn reminds her a bit of the first she saw. What a lifetime ago....]
A lot. Captain Leviâs here now, and he wants a few words.... [And a few kicks, most likely, but if Aubreyâs around he wonât get them.] And Armin and I have been [with an awkward glance his way] âŠtalking.
[To Eren:] It seemed like you could overhear a lot of it.
[It comes back in small bits and pieces as she explains. She'll have to explain more for him to get the full picture, but when it comes to Captain Levi...]
Yeah.
I do remember that, actually. [He's looking quite...cold again, suddenly.]
[Aubrey looks uneasy. Does he remember turning young, too?] Heâll want to actually talk with you, but⊠trust me, Iâll be there for that. [The âif I can,â as always, goes unsaid. She reaches for his hand.]
[Besides thatâŠ] Do you remember⊠any of the questions me and Armin got asked?
[He remembers feeling young. In his dream, he could have sworn that it was his mother he was clinging to; the safest thing he can imagine. But the pieces are falling into place now. How much of his dream was influenced by reality? He takes her hand; when she mentions she and Armin, his face goes pink, and he takes Armin's hand as well, averting his eyes. He can feel the blond man rubbing circles into his palm with his thumb.
["It was perfect." Eren, from Armin's perspective, with tears in his eyes. His cheeks are burning. That memory shouldn't have been shared. It should have only ever been Eren and Armin's. He can't meet either of their eyes.]
[Armin's voice is soft with shame. He feels like he could disappear; maybe, in this universe, he will if he isn't careful. He squeezes Eren's hand, mutually unable to meet his eyes.]
If I had to guess, [For the sake of ever untangling the mysteries of this realm:] I'd say that Eren probably picked up most of what was happening during that time.
[Itâs impossible not to. With a glance between them, Aubrey can guess what theyâre remembering; she wishes she didnât.]
âŠIt wasnât just the questions. [Before, during, after; it wasnât all prompted. Aubreyâs referring to everything and nothing; an idle comment more than anything, nudging the topic. She reaches for Arminâs hand, too, less confidently. Feels crass to push any further.]
[With a cursory glance at their hands, Armin taking Aubrey's when she takes his:]
Oh. Yeah. [So that wasn't just part of the dream, huh? Honestly, Eren had found it to be a pretty pleasant one; presently, however, he frowns, looking away from them both. The pink hasn't faded from his cheeks. Here they are, all three holding hands in a circle. How weird...]
So...what do you want, then? [A glance at Aubrey as he says this, looking not unlike an anxious dog with the way his eyes look up, his head slightly hung.
[It's embarrassing. All of it. Aubrey kissed Armin; then again, so did Eren. And he wants them both. Badly. Mikasa too, if he's honest with himself. Even Reiner...
[His heart has always been a tangle of the people he's loved.]
[Oh, the spotlightâs on her now. She probably shouldnât be embarrassed, after Eren heard everything, but Aubreyâs face warms anyway. Putting it into words⊠it feels indulgent. Would it offend him? He looks like a kicked puppy as-is....]
[She doesnât want the world to talk for her, though. So, with a deep breath:] I think⊠Iâd like that. If youâre okay with it. [Looking mostly to Eren at first, but then between them.] I love you both a lot⊠no matter what we call it. That wonât change.
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[She throws her arms around him.] Arminâ
[Itâs tight; fleeting, in case unwelcome, but she canât pull back far.] Armin⊠[Just his name, heartbroken.]
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[He waits for her to pull away. Eren is shifting in his lap. The perfect detraction.
[Almost idly - it sounds bizarrely numb for Armin:]
You're awake...
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What...was that for?
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[Hasty, then. Aubrey used to be more distant. She lets go when Armin goes stiff, but Eren keeps her closeâ Eren!
[She reaches for his cheek, almost in disbelief. Only mouthing an echo: âYouâre awake.â]
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[He pushes himself up, Armin bracing him as he awkwardly twists himself out of their laps so he can sit on the ground himself. Once he settles, he points his stare at Armin.]
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It was a long time ago.
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You know how this place works. [Insistent. Blurted before the world can share the thought. Not⊠quite annoyed, but. Itâs an overwhelm.]
[Aubrey wants Eren; she wants Eren; itâs been too long. But her gaze, too, falls back on Armin.]
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I don't know what you want me to say.
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[So theyâve had this talk before.]
We⊠weâre here for you, too, Armin.
Thatâs all. [Itâs really not.]
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I know. And I love you both for that. But I'm really alright.
[He isn't, of course. He's not even close.]
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[He looks at Aubrey, seeking to exchange a glance. Maybe they both know that they won't get anywhere with him like this...]
How long was I asleep? [As if time can really be quantified here.]
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[Ha, âIâm really alright.â âIâm fine;â been there, tried that. But she catches Erenâs look, and heâs right. Aubrey will play along.]
It felt like forever⊠I guess a day or two, but long days. [For whatever itâs worth, and all.] Do you remember anythingâŠ?
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[Does he remember anything? His brow furrows with focus.]
I was dreaming...[But he never quite remembers exactly what he dreamt about.]
What did I miss?
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[The yawn reminds her a bit of the first she saw. What a lifetime ago....]
A lot. Captain Leviâs here now, and he wants a few words.... [And a few kicks, most likely, but if Aubreyâs around he wonât get them.] And Armin and I have been [with an awkward glance his way] âŠtalking.
[To Eren:] It seemed like you could overhear a lot of it.
1/1 armin is just listening
Yeah.
I do remember that, actually. [He's looking quite...cold again, suddenly.]
Seems he already got his words in.
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YeahâŠ
[Aubrey looks uneasy. Does he remember turning young, too?] Heâll want to actually talk with you, but⊠trust me, Iâll be there for that. [The âif I can,â as always, goes unsaid. She reaches for his hand.]
[Besides thatâŠ] Do you remember⊠any of the questions me and Armin got asked?
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["It was perfect." Eren, from Armin's perspective, with tears in his eyes. His cheeks are burning. That memory shouldn't have been shared. It should have only ever been Eren and Armin's. He can't meet either of their eyes.]
Some of them.
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[Armin's voice is soft with shame. He feels like he could disappear; maybe, in this universe, he will if he isn't careful. He squeezes Eren's hand, mutually unable to meet his eyes.]
If I had to guess, [For the sake of ever untangling the mysteries of this realm:] I'd say that Eren probably picked up most of what was happening during that time.
It feels safe to assume you'll remember.
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[Itâs impossible not to. With a glance between them, Aubrey can guess what theyâre remembering; she wishes she didnât.]
âŠIt wasnât just the questions. [Before, during, after; it wasnât all prompted. Aubreyâs referring to everything and nothing; an idle comment more than anything, nudging the topic. She reaches for Arminâs hand, too, less confidently. Feels crass to push any further.]
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Oh. Yeah. [So that wasn't just part of the dream, huh? Honestly, Eren had found it to be a pretty pleasant one; presently, however, he frowns, looking away from them both. The pink hasn't faded from his cheeks. Here they are, all three holding hands in a circle. How weird...]
So...what do you want, then? [A glance at Aubrey as he says this, looking not unlike an anxious dog with the way his eyes look up, his head slightly hung.
[It's embarrassing. All of it. Aubrey kissed Armin; then again, so did Eren. And he wants them both. Badly. Mikasa too, if he's honest with himself. Even Reiner...
[His heart has always been a tangle of the people he's loved.]
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[Please don't hate me for this.]
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And I want to know what you think.
You first.
[And that's that. He looks at Aubrey, expectant.]
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[Oh, the spotlightâs on her now. She probably shouldnât be embarrassed, after Eren heard everything, but Aubreyâs face warms anyway. Putting it into words⊠it feels indulgent. Would it offend him? He looks like a kicked puppy as-is....]
[She doesnât want the world to talk for her, though. So, with a deep breath:] I think⊠Iâd like that. If youâre okay with it. [Looking mostly to Eren at first, but then between them.] I love you both a lot⊠no matter what we call it. That wonât change.
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1/4 ICON ICON GOT TO USE THE ICON THE ICON THE--
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3/4 eren decreeth the polycule THUSLY
4/4 ARMIN BLAST
1/2 THE ICONNNN we a little split but tis the spirit
2/2 aubreremin REAL
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