Chapter Text
Just as you’re looking up, your breath gets caught in the lump of your throat. Standing before you was Armin Arlert, the boy who had your heart in his hands from the moment you first laid eyes on him. He was taller than you remembered, wearing a white button up, matching yours, with navy blue slacks and a black belt to accompany.
His sleeves were rolled up, resting just above his elbow to give you enough skin to see how much his physique has filled out since your last time seeing each other.
An unfamiliar heat rises in the apple of your cheeks as you lock eyes with him, standing frozen in your place as he does the same. Your name rolling off this tongue did wonders on your heart, feeling it flutter in the cage of your ribs a lot harder than you’d like.
“I didn’t know you still worked here.” His voice is delicate, a little more mature than you remember and a little sadder than you hoped. His big blue eyes were staring back into yours, waiting for you to say something, or at least breathe.
“I, uh, yeah, I still work here.” A forced laugh follows as you awkwardly shift around him to stand behind the podium. You’re doing your best to go over the seating rotation, ignoring the burning feeling in the back of your throat as you avoid eye contact with the man in front of you.
“Uhm, I’m sorry, how many?”
Armin steps closer, eyes peering over the podium to see what you’re doing out of curiosity.
“Armin?”
Your voice calling out his name seems to snap him out of whatever thoughts had him caught up, leaning back on his heels as he awkwardly rubs the nape of his neck. “Oh, sorry, just one–just me.”
Him showing up alone brings you both a sliver of happiness and a bit of sadness given his recent breakup. Your eyes nearly bulge out your head when you realize not only are you the only server with a two-top left, but it’s also your turn for being sat.
Your hands were trembling slightly as you marked yourself as getting a table before looking up at the expectant boy before you. You couldn’t help, but notice how his golden blonde hair hangs over his forehead, threatening to tangle into his stupidly long lashes.
“Uhm, just follow me.” And he does, his hands sway slightly beside him as he follows you to the table you seat him at. “Do you drink–I mean, of course you drink, everybody drinks or we’d all get dehydrated.” His gaze is burning through the back of your head, making the air in the restaurant feel thicker than it had earlier.
“Here’s a menu, can I get you a drink, if you drink or not—we don’t judge if you’re not thirsty.” A shaky breath leaves you as Armin takes his seat with a slight smile on his lips.
“What kind of drinks do you offer?” He’s looking up at you, eyes locked on yours as he leans onto the table with his elbows holding him up.
“We have pretty much anything you’d like, we also have drinks from the bar which your server—me, I'm your server because you’re sitting in my section, uhm—oh, we have a new cocktail or you can just look over the menu in case you don’t want a cocktail.” Your words come out rushed and you’re left breathless as you try to hide the heat crawling up your neck.
Armin seems pleased by your uneasiness and looks down at the menu on the table in front of him, flipping it over and giving it a few glances over before looking back up at you.
“How about I try the cocktail of the day with a glass of water, please.”
“Aren’t you curious as to what it is?”
“There was a sign up front.” He points over to the chalk stand that described the specials for the day, all thanks to Pieck and her frilly handwriting. Embarrassment floods through you as you awkwardly take up the unused menu across from him and nod.
“Right—I'll go let your server know, which is me, I'll go get—yeah.”
Pivoting on your heels, you make a b-line for the bar where Marco was cleaning glasses and Jean was rearranging bottles of liquor on a shelf. You throw down the menu you had in hand with a groan, leaning against the counter as you recall the most embarrassing moment you just experienced in your whole time on this forsaken planet.
“Woah, I hate to break it to you, but it’s a little too early into the night to start our therapy session, unless you really miss me that much.” Jean sports a smug smile as he gets down to your eye level, to which you wished you could hit him with the menu and not get fired.
“I hate to break it to you, Jean boy, but I actually miss it when I'm not in your presence.”
Marco lets out a snort, trying to avoid the crossfire as he cleans the glass in his hand.
“I need the special, but switch the champagne with vodka please.”
Jean raises a brow at your request, gathering his strainer and mixers while not missing the distressed look on your face. “I’m guessing someone gave you hell on it being only champagne?”
You shake your head, peering over your shoulder to the table that Armin sat at, scanning over the menu before looking up briefly to meet your eyes. The menu was blocking his mouth, but your face burns as you imagine what kind of expression he must’ve had.
“No, he just doesn’t like champagne.” you mumble back, immediately whipping your head around to avoid his gaze.
“No fucking way, is that Arlert in your section?” Jean, to your surprise, is a lot louder than you’d hope. Groaning, you snatch the menu off the bar and speed walk into the back to get his water prepared, sneaking a glance over at Armin before he leaves your peripheral.
Once you get his water, you grab your tray and speed past the bar, snatching the drink off the counter before Jean can press you for information.
“Sorry about the wait, can I get you anything to start off the night?”
You’re doing your damnedest to remain professional, setting both his drinks onto the table before pulling your notepad from your apron. Armin scans your face before letting out a soft hum, looking over his menu once more.
“What would you order if you came here?”
“Honestly, I put my trust in our chef each time I order here, probably due to him knowing my palette already, but also due to the food having never disappointed me.”
He’s looking up at you, his lips pressed in a thin line as he stares into your eyes as if he’s searching for something. Handing over the menu, a smile spreads onto his lips as he holds eye contact with you.
“I guess I’m leaving my fate in your hands tonight then.”
Biting your inner cheek, you manage to scribble down your favorite dish that is off the menu, making sure to write ‘hand it to Chef Levi personally’ at the bottom of the ticket.
“I promise I won’t disappoint you.” Armin is already taking his first sip of his drink, brows furrowed as you’re about to slip off to the well. He calls you back, sparking panic within your chest.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I thought that the special was made with champagne, but I taste vodka instead, was there some mistake?”
Your mouth was moving faster than your brain could keep up with, blurting out the words as if it was an obvious thing. “Oh, I asked him to switch it because I know you don’t like champagne.” Armin stared at you silently, lips slightly parted as you slowly retreated from his table and off to the kitchen.
The rest of the night went on as if it would never end. Once Jean’s big mouth opened, everyone was painfully aware that Armin was in your section and had been for hours now. Jean theorized that he might be ordering one thing at a time in hopes to steal your time and as the night got slower with less and less people coming in, the only thing for you to do is clean your section and finish your side work.
Pieck and Sasha made sure to keep the night exciting, sending knowing looks your way each time you rang in a new order for your only two-top table.
Your coworkers were no stranger to your one-sided feelings for the baby blue eyed boy, everyone except Porco who leaned against the bar with crossed arms and stared over at Armin with an unreadable expression.
“I don’t get the hype, what’s even up with this kid anyway?”
Pieck, who was standing beside him as she waited for her last table to leave, chose to feed his curiosity with a brief history lesson as the two, with the accompaniment of their bartenders, watch you awkwardly interact with Armin.
“See, Armin is y/n’s roommate's childhood best friend. We all kinda met towards the end of college, but she knew him before she knew us. She’s been head over heels for him since she met him, but he was dating his ex and in between him and his ex, Annie, breaking up and getting back together, she never had the guts to confess.”
“Not to mention, she still kind of ran into him after college because of her roommate and her boyfriend being his best friends, so she never escaped him. Each time Annie fucked him over, she heard the worst of it and each time he took her back, she heard about him getting dragged through the mud all over again.” Jean added in, wiping down the bar.
Sasha was passing by, leaning in to add on, “Don’t forget how close she and Armin were prior to Annie cheating the first time, after that, Armin kind of withdrew and never explained himself.”
You were too oblivious to your friends giving Porco the full rundown on your history with the boy in front of you, grabbing the abandoned plate on his table. The whole night, you tried to avoid his table and only checked on him as frequently as you could, a soft tint of pink on your face with each visit.
“Anything else you’d like to order before the kitchen closes for the night?” Your words seem to stun him, watching as he looks down at the sparkling silver watch on his wrist.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how long I’d been here. No, that was perfect, just the check is fine.” Nodding, you’re turning to walk off before his slender fingers wrap around your wrist, halting you in your steps.
“I, um, this might sound highly inappropriate, but when does your shift end?”
“We close in thirty minutes, but I have to finish my side work before I can leave and do tip outs and–”
“No she doesn’t, I can do your side work so you can leave early.” Connie, who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, smiled at you with a knowing look in his eyes as they flicker between Armin’s hand around your wrist and the climbing blush on your neck and ears.
“Go ahead and close for the night, oh and hey Armin.”
Armin slowly loosens his hold on your wrist, letting his hand fall as you make a break off to grab your bag from behind the bar. Armin is making small talk with Connie while Pieck smiles, watching you frantically count your tips and do the last few things you need to do before being able to leave.
Once everything had been done and all your tabs were closed, you said goodbye to everyone while Armin waited patiently outside. Your early takeoff was met with a surprised look from Erwin, but judging by his lack of refusal, he must’ve already been informed.
As you push past the glass doors, you are met with a very timid Armin waiting for you, his hands stuffed in the front pockets of his slacks.
“Did you drive?”
Shaking your head, your head lowers in slight embarrassment. “I usually take the bus or call a cab.” He only nods his head in response, looking down in hopes to meet your eyes. “Mind if I drive you home?” You take in a shaky breath, figuring there wasn’t much harm in accepting his offer.
“Lead the way.”
⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆
Armin drove an all white four seater suv, but with just the two of you in his car, you felt smaller than you were used to. The two of you sat in silence for most of the ride, excluding the time he asked you if you were cold or if you wanted to listen to music, to which he got a no for both.
He didn’t necessarily need directions to where you lived either, having been over more times than he can remember and knew alternative routes to get there depending on traffic, a plus for him. When the two of you pull up in front of your apartment complex, you unbuckle your seatbelt and he does the same. The two of you sit in silence, waiting to see who was going to be the first to break the silence.
“It was good seeing you today, it’s truly been a while.” His voice sounded strained, as if he wasn’t sure to word it in the way he did.
“If you didn't shut me out, it probably wouldn’t have been so nice, would it?” You didn’t miss the way he flinched slightly from the tone of your voice. You tried to not sound so hurt, trying to conceal the pain his absence truly gave you, but some things are easier said than done.
“I’m truly so sorry, you have no idea how badly I wish I could've explained it all at the time.”
“No, you’re right, Armin, I have no idea because you forgot to fill me in on that.” His eyes were on his hands that rested in his lap, fidgeting with his fingers as he gave you the space to continue.
“I get that you’re still hurting, I truly hate that I wasn’t there to be someone you thought you could confide in, but I don’t get it...what did I do for you to cut me out like that?”
Truthfully, it’s been over three years since Armin and his now ex girlfriend Annie first began their vicious cycle of being together and breaking up. Their relationship was fine in the beginning, your relationship with him was fine–that was until she cheated on him and slowly after that, Armin stopped calling you to tell you about his new book he found at the library. He stopped texting you, seeing if you wanted to study together or even come over to your apartment with Eren.
At first, you brushed it off as him hurting, at least that’s what everyone kept telling you and you respected that. It wasn’t until they had broken up again later on and Eren accidentally let it slip one night that you had gotten the hint.
Even after you had left him countless messages in attempts to reach out, but you never got a response. Eventually, you moved on, understanding that you no longer mattered to him the way he still does to you. Or that’s what you continuously try to convince yourself.
“There’s so much I want to tell you, that I’ve wanted to tell you for a while and I just–”
You’re staring at him, hanging on his every word. You need an explanation, you deserved one, he knew that, but the words seemed to get lost in his throat.
“Would it be okay if I walk you to your door tonight?”
It surprised you, to say the least, that he wanted to walk you up, but you didn’t fight him. Silently, you gathered your things as he turned his car off and got out his side, walking around to open your door for you. He follows you into the building, not saying anything as the two of you ride the elevator up to your floor. As you’re stepping off, Armin continues to revel in his silence, head down while the two of you near your front door.
You dig into your apron that you should’ve taken off a while ago, fetching your keys before turning around to face Armin. His eyes are already beaming down at your face, the poorly lit hallway giving them just enough light to show the hidden pain behind them.
You could get lost in his eyes, you want to get lost in his eyes, but they’ve never lingered on you long enough to give you the choice to do so.
“This is me.”
Motioning to your door, an awkward smile plays out on your lips. He mirrors the smile, taking in a deep breath. You can tell by the rise in his chest, he wants to say something and you give him the time to do so, needing to hear him out before the night is over.
“Do you still have the same number?”
The shock on your face must’ve been evident, judging by the laugh he let out.
“I know I have a lot to make up for, more than I can fit in one night, so if you’ll have me, I want to meet you for lunch sometime and we can talk.”
“I uh, yeah, I have the same number.”
Armin seemed satisfied, giving you a wide tooth grin as he slowly receded down the hallway. Turning to enter your apartment, you’re taking in the shock of the day. Mikasa was in the kitchen when you dropped your bag off by the front door, the sweet smell of bad takeout being heated luring you in.
“Hey, you’re back early.”
Her back is to you as you slip off your shoes, your fingers fiddling with untucking the strings of your apron. “Yeah, I got a ride home.” She simply nods, scooping out portions of food onto a paper plate before repeating onto another.
“Did you guys talk it out?” You knew that she was either going to give you the full rundown of her talk with him, or simply avoid the subject in total. Mikasa wasn’t the best at expressing how she felt with anyone, even her boyfriend, but there are moments when she allowed herself to lean on someone and eventually unload all that she harbors by herself.
“Yeah, he came over actually and we talked.”
There was a faint blush on her cheeks as she brought over the two plates of food to where you were, sitting on the couch with exhaustion starting to settle in. With one glance at her softened expression, you knew that they fucked while he was here. At least they have the curiosity of doing it while you are at work.
“I get where he’s coming from, trying to help Armin move on from, uhm, her .” You visibly express your distaste for her name being spoken, another obvious sign that you never liked Armin’s ex. It wasn’t out of selfish reasons for you to have him to yourself, you just never liked her whole ‘ i am too cool for you ’ vibes she upheld anytime she was spoken to.
“And I told him that if he wants Armin happy that bad, he needs to let him figure it out on his own instead of babying him. Don’t get me wrong, I feel really bad for him too, I just.” Mikasa lets out a defeated sigh, handling her fork in her hand as if it was the most delicate thing she’s ever held–as if it were her relationship with Eren himself.
“Good for you for standing up to him anyway, he’s an idiot for shutting you out. Jaeger better step his game before I take you away from him.” A smile spread across your sleepy face and Mikasa returned it with a laugh.
The two of you spend the rest of your time eating and making small talk, her telling you about the rest of their time together throughout the time you were at work and you filled her in on most of your eventful shift.
After the two of you finish eating, Mikasa goes back to her room and you take a well deserved shower, letting the water melt off the stress the night brought onto you unexpectedly. By the time you got out of the shower, slipped on something sleep appropriate and got into bed, you saw your phone light up on your pillow.
Picking it up, you see a familiar name on your screen with three missed messages. Your heart begins to beat a little faster as you click on the notifications, having missed seeing his name on your phone.
armin: hey .. i really hope this is the right number
armin: i want to say thank you for letting me give you a ride and goodnight since i forgot to say it earlier
armin: oh wait, before i forget, when are you off again?
Chewing on your bottom lip, you relish in the events of the day. Is this really happening? After all this time, are you and him actually going to talk as if nothing happened? For now, you can’t dwell on what’s to come or what happened before.
The time on your phone reads 1:53am, indicating that you need to sleep now in order to enjoy your day before your next shift starts. You send back a simple reply before turning your phone face down, in hopes to not be tempted to check it every few minutes if you get a reply.
you: we’re closed sundays through tuesdays so i get three day weekends :)
After hitting end, you immediately cringe at the added emoji. You’re about to turn over when you hear a faint buzz, immediately getting your attention. With a little more speed than you’d be willing to admit, you snatched your phone from beside your bed and tapped the screen to see a message from Armin.
armin: dang .. I work throughout the week, maybe I can steal you for a sunday or lunch on monday?
A smile spread across your face as the thought that you’re actually making plans with him brings back familiar feelings, thoughts and emotions you hadn’t dared to unpack in a long time.
you: don’t you have work in the morning mr. arlert?
armin: maybe
armin: what time does the restaurant open?
You hesitate to respond, warmth spreading across your cheeks as you try to read into why he is so interested in your working hours. Sure, he could simply just be curious so that he can find a convenient time for the two of you to meet up, the boy you once knew was articulate like that. He liked to have everything planned out to the best of his abilities so that whatever could be taken in account would already have been factored in.
you: google it, goodnight armin :)
You stayed up longer than you would have liked after sending that last message, your brain waiting and hoping each little vibration that the random notifications on your phone brought was from him instead. Eventually, you tried to shut out the million thoughts of what you could’ve said differently and overthinking how you interacted with him at the restaurant so that you could finally fall asleep.
By the time you wake up, you immediately check your phone and to much dismay, you had no missed messages from him . Doing your best to not overthink your entire existence in the last twenty-four hours, you decide to get on with your day and spend your time wallowing in your empty apartment before your later shift.
⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆