Without Words (Armin X Reader)

    You had the bandages secured around your throat before putting a light blue scarf over them. The Military Police wanted nothing to do with you now so you had volunteered to join the Survey Corps; almost as if to punch them in the face that is.  You did not like the way the Military Police handled some things and voicing that left you voiceless.
    Today you started a new life in the Survey Corps.
    The uniform felt good in an odd sense; it was as if the Wings of Freedom were meant for you. With a smile you headed off for the morning line up. Once there you stood next to a blond boy with pretty blue eyes.
    You beamed a smile at the boy who then flushed and wished you a timid, "Good morning". You wished so bad you could reply, but did the only thing you could do, smile more.
    The infamous Lance Corporal Levi Ackerman appeared before the cadets with narrowed eyes daring someone to step out of line and make his day. He began a roll call in alphabetical order even though yours would be at the end regardless because of the transfer. You found out the cutie beside you is Armin Arlert.
    "(L/n), (F/n)!" He called your name loud. You raised your hand but he did not seem to notice. "Cadet (F/n) (L/n)!" He shouted as his eyes glared up at all the people before him. You raised your hand a little higher to catch his attention.
    He stormed over to you with a nasty glare. "Are you deaf cadet? You are supposed to say you are here." He hissed. You frowned and kind of shook your head; he did not like this. "What kind of insolence is this?" He asked in a voice cold enough to freeze every drop of rain to ever hit the earth.
    You couldn't say anything though and that only pissed him off more.
    "So you won't speak and you wear something not in regulation?" He demanded to know as he grabbed at the scarf. Your eyes widened in fear as you shook your head no. Your mouth opened and tried to form words but nothing came out. Frustration made tears build in your eyes.
    The scarf was taken from your neck to expose the bandages that covered your most recent live nightmare. You looked down at the short corporal with tears building in your eyes. "The hell is this?" He demanded to know before poking a sore spot on your throat.
    You jumped back but your yip of pain was inaudible to all. "Sir, permission to speak?" The boy named Armin saluted his superior and your (e/c) eyes shot over to him questioningly.
    "What is it Arlert?" The Lance Corporal snapped.
    "Is she not the new recruit Commander Erwin told us we would get from the Military Police?" The superior's eyes snapped back to you with the slightest widening.
    "You are the ballsy brat who exposed the illegal dealings of the Military Police to the people?" When you nodded he took on a small grin. "I don't hate you already, (L/n)." He patted your shoulder before resuming today's plans.
    "It takes a lot to not be hated by him; good job, (F/n)!" Armin said with a smile. You felt yourself blush and you twirled the end of your ponytail around your fingers.
    At lunch Armin called you over to his table and you could not be any happier. You had already developed a crush on the boy. All day he had helped you with anything and everything. In combat training he convinced Hanji to let you sit out because, apparently, you needed to recover. You didn't have the heart to tell him that you were number one in the 103th trainees group and were not much of a wimp.
    A boy named Jean sat on your other side with a shit eating grin on his face. You had to admit it kinda creped you out. "You are pretty for a silent girl." That rubbed you the wrong way. Without thinking you put your arm around his shoulders and pulled him down to your level.
    Your (e/c) eyes pierced into his golden ones. In a flash you twisted him so that you had him in a headlock, his back against your front, and you gripped the mushroom styled hair of his with one hand, pulling it so your arm could press tightly against his throat.
    Everyone at the table gawked shamelessly at the scene before them. When you thought he got the picture you shoved him away and returned to eating your food. The boy who is the Titan Shifter began to laugh uncontrollably at Jean. You cocked your head to the side in confusion before looking to Armin for answer, glad he did not seem scared by what you just did.
    "Eren and Jean don't like each other." He explained and you just smiled. Armin seemed to flush at your smile so you made sure to do it often throughout the rest of the day.

    A month passed by and you were practically glued to Armin's side. He more or less acted like you were a fragile flower that needed his nurturing care; not that you minded being with the blond cutie twenty-four seven. This rainy day you sat with him in the library waiting for him to show you whatever it is he was so excited about.
    You lay sprawled out over the comfy loveseat when Armin approached you with something behind his back. Eyeing him curiously you moved a piece of your (h/c) hair out of your face to place it behind your ear. You pressed two fingers to your lips which had become your symbol for his name. You had yet to learn sign language and it seemed impossible after eighteen years of saying what you think and feel.
    "(F/n), I found something for you, and, well, I would like you to use it..." He held out a square object wrapped in brown paper. Blinking at it several times to show your confusion you took it from him. Slowly you unwrapped the thing to find a mini chalkboard.
    Your eyes lit up even more when he handed you a box of multicolored chalks. "The different colors can help portray your mood." He gave a nervous laugh after his words. You rose from your position on the loveseat and threw your arms around him tightly. His arms wrapped back around you and caused butterflies to stir in your gut.
    "Say something to me!" Armin cheered as he took a seat next to you. Picking out a piece of pink chalk you pondered what to write for a moment.
    I like you; you smell nice.
    You smiled and showed him what you wrote. His face turned four shades of red from that one sentence. He gave a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his head, "Thank you. You...smell nice...too?" Your smile got bigger as his cheeks got darker.
    Quickly erasing the sentence you write, Are we friends?
    "Of course! I mean...ummm...if you want to be..."
    Yay! Your grin couldn't get any bigger.

    Armin. Armin. Armin. Armin.
    "(F/n), you don't have to write my name more than once when I'm reading it intently as you write." He laughed softly as you flushed a little. You quickly cleared the board.
    I didn't know you were behind me! Plus, I like your name. It's cute like you.
    It was Armin's turn to flush. "It's not that great of a name..." He drifted off before taking a seat next to you on the grassy hill just past the training field.
    It is because it's yours. You gave him another grin.
    "(F/n), do you ever miss talking?" The question caught you off guard for he had never asked you something like that and never out of the blue.
    Why are you asking?
    "Please just answer..."
    After thinking for a while you write, Sometimes, but I think it is kind of a good thing now, especially with the expedition coming up. You showed him your words and watched as his brow scrunched in confusion.
    "How so?" His blue eyes roved over your face as you erased your board.
    Taking out a deep blue chalk you began to write. Once written down you showed him. If I get hurt or eaten on the expedition people won't have to hear my screams and suffer or have nightmares about them. Armin knocked the board from your hands and wrapped you up in his arms.
    "Don't say stuff like that!" His voice didn't sound right and it took you a moment to realize he was crying. "Don't say something so depressing and don't think that, just because you can't talk, your death will go unnoticed!" He pressed you tighter against him.
    You could not reach your board because of how far it had been knocked and how tight he held you to him. You slowly wrapped your arms around Armin and smiled into the crook of his neck. He began to cry so you began to rub soothing circles onto his back.
    "I would miss you!" He choked out between the body racking sobs. He had such a soft heart. He couldn't be any more sincere or sweet. You kissed the base of his neck as if to tell him you would miss him as well.
    He held you for a long time but you did not mind for even though neither of you uttered a word, your feelings were communicated.

    The expedition had been hard.
    Many lives were lost but you were alive. Armin was alive. That's all that mattered to you.
    Returning to the safety of the walls felt off. You no longer had your small chalkboard and you did not know when it would be till you got a new one. While killing a Titan your horse took off, taking your chalkboard with it.
    You had just dismounted when Armin came up to you, throwing his arms around you he began muttering intangible things. You wrapped your arms right back around him and waited for his words to make sense.
    "I was so scared to lose you. I thought I would never tell you how I feel. I can't believe you went after that behemoth of a Titan!" He pressed his forehead against your shoulder as his body shook slightly.
    You wanted to tell him it was okay, but you couldn't.
    The words couldn't leave your throat.
    He lifted his face so that his blue eyes met yours. In that moment you knew you could tell him how you feel without words. Placing your hands on both sides of his face you closed your eyes and leaned forward as you lifted up on your tiptoes.
    Your lips pressed onto his in the sweetest embrace and soon he added pressure back, his hands slipping to your waist. You pulled away and your eyelids fluttered open to find him flushed and nervous. "I love you too." He said back.
    Smiling you went in for another kiss.
    You could communicate your feelings without words and Armin had no objections.