[It’s been how long since they started with one of the world’s little games? It’s a nice one, at least. And god, may it not leave Armin coughing up petals again....]
[She smiles at him, faint and tired, but light all the same. Eren’s not with her, but he’s in the arms of someone else he loves and who loves him. Despite how Armin last saw them… they’re holding on.]
Hey, Armin. [On to the prompt, then.] You know, despite what you’ve said… I think you’re one of the most true people I know. You know what you value, and you know what you’re fighting for. [Maybe it’s presumptuous, but…] I don’t think any of that is a lie.
And your ocean-blue eyes are pretty beautiful, too. [Small cough. Sometimes the clichés are true.]
[Ocean-blue. Armin's cheeks flare up pink. It's the best compliment she could have given to him.
[The former is harder to swallow - he's not "true" at all, but...]
I've been more honest with you than I'm used to. [There's a pause, a weak smile. It fades very quickly.] I don't like to lie. I guess I'm just used to it.
I used to value honesty a lot. You're right, though. A lot of what I've told you is true. [Accept that, at least. He'll try.]
It's...refreshing. To be able to tell the truth. I appreciate that.
[Do th. Do they flirt? Have Eren and Aubrey ever flirted or do they just catapult themselves from 0 to 100,000 on a collision course eternally forever.]
[Oh, it’s been a good while since Aubrey heard Armin laugh like that. When was the last, at the ocean? After so much… everything, recently, it makes her heart lighter to see him this way again.]
That sounds about right. [It feels a bit strange talking about Eren while he’s not around like this—but really, when have they not?] We’re probably similar like that, being blunt and all…
And if we’re similar enough, your flirting must work on him pretty well. [A friendly understatement.]
[Armin is plenty smooth, far as Aubrey’s concerned. He rubs his thumb over her palm as if to leave his own mark—not at all burning or fraught, but loving all the same.
[Time for her face’s hue to rival his again.] You know, it… didn’t have to go both ways. [She’s not complaining, though. Aubrey’s other hand reaches for Armin’s, clasping it gently.]
I'm sure that anyone who looks at you can tell that you're beautiful on the outside. That...really goes without saying, doesn't it?
There are more important things. Your courage. Your loyalty. You have a loving heart, despite everything. I know this isn't about Eren, but the way you've managed to care for him is just...remarkable to me. There's power to that kind of care. Your soul is kind, though...[With a preemptively apologetic smile.]...I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't eager to accept that sort of thing.
[Geez. The appearance compliment is enough. She’s left at a loss for words, somewhere between deeply touched and… sad? Not quite, but… it’s difficult to pinpoint. It’s not uncomplicated.
[You don’t deserve] Sorry. Sorry. It’s just—
[Aubrey squeezes Armin’s hands, apologetic without the smile. It’s hard to look at him.] I wouldn’t… I didn’t think you felt that way.
[She forces herself to meet his eyes. Softly, almost guilty,] Thanks, Armin.
Edited (accidentally a very important word) 2024-02-03 03:05 (UTC)
[Armin's smile becomes a rather sad thing, as it sometimes does. The overall expression fits his face a little too well. A thumb strokes Aubrey's knuckles.]
It really does feel that way, doesn't it? That we don't deserve the love we're given.
At the end of the day, though...I'm still grateful for it. Lucky, even. Imagine that...
You’re right… I like looking at it your way better. [It’s not quite a smile, but her own expression manages to relax. Sad, still, but that’s a face which fits them all too well.]
And… I do mean that thanks. [She rubs at his hand in turn. If it can be half as soothing as his own, it’ll be enough.] I’m lucky to have you.
[Maybe with anyone else Aubrey might feel strange about this, but… it’s Armin. Armin. The world didn’t put them through those questions, Eren smiling in his sleep on their laps, for nothing.]
Yeah… it is nice. [For now, it’s just them. Eren is cared for. She’d die for— no, live for, both these boys.]
[Aubrey squeezes Armin’s hand again, bringing it down towards their chests, away from his lips. Tilts her head slightly. Her intentions are clear. Maybe flirting isn’t her strong suit, but she knows she’s good at one thing… Armin said so himself.
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aubremin time.
[It’s been how long since they started with one of the world’s little games? It’s a nice one, at least. And god, may it not leave Armin coughing up petals again....]
[She smiles at him, faint and tired, but light all the same. Eren’s not with her, but he’s in the arms of someone else he loves and who loves him. Despite how Armin last saw them… they’re holding on.]
Hey, Armin. [On to the prompt, then.] You know, despite what you’ve said… I think you’re one of the most true people I know. You know what you value, and you know what you’re fighting for. [Maybe it’s presumptuous, but…] I don’t think any of that is a lie.
And your ocean-blue eyes are pretty beautiful, too. [Small cough. Sometimes the clichés are true.]
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[The former is harder to swallow - he's not "true" at all, but...]
I've been more honest with you than I'm used to. [There's a pause, a weak smile. It fades very quickly.] I don't like to lie. I guess I'm just used to it.
I used to value honesty a lot. You're right, though. A lot of what I've told you is true. [Accept that, at least. He'll try.]
It's...refreshing. To be able to tell the truth. I appreciate that.
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[She didn’t just want to compliment his looks. Should’ve figured the rest might be a fine line, though…]
I’m glad you can, here. I mean, even with how this place is… the people are good. As in, there’s worse to be honest with… you get it.
[Aubrey’s not good at talk like this. What she can say, though:] You’re cute when you blush, too. By the way.
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Are you flirting with me, Aubrey?
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[Her face lights up like a sprout mole’s Christmas tree.] I-I don’t know. Am I?
[yes]
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[He’s so much smoother than Eren.]
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[She reaches to just. gently shove his face.] Alright, are you flirting with me?
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[The palm on his cheek is now a (still very light) fist. Get bapped, idiot.] Maybe.
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Am I better at it than Eren? Be honest.
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[Do th. Do they flirt? Have Eren and Aubrey ever flirted or do they just catapult themselves from 0 to 100,000 on a collision course eternally forever.]
You know, I don’t think he ever has.
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That doesn't surprise me at all. I can't even imagine it, really.
Eren...He's all brunt honesty when it comes to that sort of thing. He'd sooner insult someone he likes than try to butter them up.
[Still fond. It's so painfully obvious that Armin is in love with him.]
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[Oh, it’s been a good while since Aubrey heard Armin laugh like that. When was the last, at the ocean? After so much… everything, recently, it makes her heart lighter to see him this way again.]
That sounds about right. [It feels a bit strange talking about Eren while he’s not around like this—but really, when have they not?] We’re probably similar like that, being blunt and all…
And if we’re similar enough, your flirting must work on him pretty well. [A friendly understatement.]
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I'm not sure if that's true. Maybe a time or two...[After Reiner, when they were young, and Eren was uncertain.
[Then again, he's still uncertain, isn't he? In ways, he always has been.]
Sounds like it's working alright on you though. [Which makes the red in his cheeks only deepen. Really not all that smooth at all...
[He takes her hand in his, turning the palm up, running a thumb lovingly over it.]
Regarding the topic at hand, Aubrey, there...are a lot of things I find beautiful about you.
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[Armin is plenty smooth, far as Aubrey’s concerned. He rubs his thumb over her palm as if to leave his own mark—not at all burning or fraught, but loving all the same.
[Time for her face’s hue to rival his again.] You know, it… didn’t have to go both ways. [She’s not complaining, though. Aubrey’s other hand reaches for Armin’s, clasping it gently.]
I like this. Just spending time with you.
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But I'd like to tell you anyway.
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Didn’t say you couldn’t.
[Quick ‘>:P’. Dammit, Armin, let her be tsundere about it.]
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I'm sure that anyone who looks at you can tell that you're beautiful on the outside. That...really goes without saying, doesn't it?
There are more important things. Your courage. Your loyalty. You have a loving heart, despite everything. I know this isn't about Eren, but the way you've managed to care for him is just...remarkable to me. There's power to that kind of care. Your soul is kind, though...[With a preemptively apologetic smile.]...I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't eager to accept that sort of thing.
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[Geez. The appearance compliment is enough. She’s left at a loss for words, somewhere between deeply touched and… sad? Not quite, but… it’s difficult to pinpoint. It’s not uncomplicated.
[You don’t deserve] Sorry. Sorry. It’s just—
[Aubrey squeezes Armin’s hands, apologetic without the smile. It’s hard to look at him.] I wouldn’t… I didn’t think you felt that way.
[She forces herself to meet his eyes. Softly, almost guilty,] Thanks, Armin.
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It really does feel that way, doesn't it? That we don't deserve the love we're given.
At the end of the day, though...I'm still grateful for it. Lucky, even. Imagine that...
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You’re right… I like looking at it your way better. [It’s not quite a smile, but her own expression manages to relax. Sad, still, but that’s a face which fits them all too well.]
And… I do mean that thanks. [She rubs at his hand in turn. If it can be half as soothing as his own, it’ll be enough.] I’m lucky to have you.
We all are.
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Maybe we all deserve that...simply for the fact that we're alive to see it...
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[Gosh, but the way he does that like it’s nothing. Consider Aubrey enamored.]
There you go again, saying just the right thing. [Now there’s a smile, soft and teasing.
[She’s not half as smooth, so she pulls just one hand up to ruffle his hair, drawing closer in turn.] Someone’s a romantic.
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Maybe so...
[There's a pause, an anxious twist in his lips that rapidly becomes a smile.]
I still can't help but feel a bit like I'm intruding, but...we've never really had time alone like this since we all agreed...
It's nice.
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[Maybe with anyone else Aubrey might feel strange about this, but… it’s Armin. Armin. The world didn’t put them through those questions, Eren smiling in his sleep on their laps, for nothing.]
Yeah… it is nice. [For now, it’s just them. Eren is cared for. She’d die for— no, live for, both these boys.]
[Aubrey squeezes Armin’s hand again, bringing it down towards their chests, away from his lips. Tilts her head slightly. Her intentions are clear. Maybe flirting isn’t her strong suit, but she knows she’s good at one thing… Armin said so himself.
[He’s not intruding at all.]
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