Chapter Text
You feel ridiculous. After struggling with your hand wraps for a solid five minutes, depending on the expertise of your cousin to finally get them on, you awkwardly strike the hanging bag, mocked by the distinct metallic shuffle of chains. Annie’s face is neutral, watching as your stance wavers, arms twisting against the bag in ways that will probably lead to injury if not better developed. She gives you pointers every few punches, critiquing your form and the forces of your strikes. You notice sweat rolling down the nape of your neck, trailing your spine. You shiver.
Annie has been coming to the boxing gym for years. It helps her unwind after long days of classes and work. Despite her small stature, she’s incredibly strong and will often spar with other gym goers much larger than herself. She never loses. When you, just a year younger, had been admitted to the same university, she offered to be your roommate, a suggestion you gladly accepted; however, part of living with your cousin, as it turned out, is accompanying her to the gym.
It’s nice sometimes, giving you a place to work out, some physical activity to balance the sedentary style of sitting in class after class and drifting to the library to study. At this moment, however, you are not a fan. Your arms ache from the warm up, your legs threatening to fold beneath you from the squats you had done with your boyfriend the day before. You wish you could pick working out with Annie or working out with Eren, but you feel guilty standing one up for the other, so you created an alternating schedule with each of them. This leaves your body perpetually sore.
“Straight shots,” Annie commands with her usual coolness. “If you bend out your arms like that you’re going to get injured.”
“An injury would be nice right about now,” you grumble through a tense jaw as you strike the bag again with more controlled arms. “It’d save me from this torture.”
“You don’t have to come with me if you’re going to complain about it.”
“I’m just joking. I like doing this with you, but I do think I’m pretty much done today.”
You pause to reach down and take a drink out of your water bottle, letting the last drips of soothing liquid fall on your lips.
Annie speaks. “Sounds good. You seem more exhausted than normal today. I’m going to find someone to spar with real quick, then we can head out.”
Nodding, you watch as she approaches a few bulky men who stand together laughing. You can’t keep a smirk from creeping onto your face. Annie revels in the opportunity to put assholes in their place, and while you don’t know anything about the gym bros, you can tell they piss her off somehow.
The water fountain is pressed against a rustic brick wall in the back corner of the gym. You gather your belongings and weave through the space until you reach the glorious source of respite. As you fill your water bottle, you feel a large presence behind you, followed shortly by a hand resting on the fill station just next to you.
“Mind if I slip in for a sip?”
You jump a little, backing away from the fountain.
“Yeah, sorry,” you say, waiting for him to quench his thirst.
He takes a long drink, and you can’t help but notice his muscular figure. Broad shoulders, complemented by a slimmed waist and pleasantly firm arms. He wears a sleeveless T-shirt the color of a thunderstorm in August.
He notices you staring and grins.
“Do you like what you see?”
“Huh,” you say absentmindedly, still captivated by his body. It only takes a moment to break from your trance. “Sorry, I was just noticing that you’re pretty, you know, built. Did you get that beefy from just boxing or do you do something else?”
“Why are you so interested,” he asks with a gleam in his tempting hazel eyes.
You blush. “My boyfriend,” you notice his eyebrow arch at the word. “He wants to build more muscle since he’s mostly lean. I think his phrasing is ‘get absolutely jacked,’ and you look like you are.”
The man grins. “I’m flattered. Just years of working out, lifting, boxing too I guess,” he shrugs. “Tell him to eat a protein centered diet, spend a few hours in the gym every day. He’ll get there.”
“Thanks, I’ll pass on the info,” you reply gratefully.
“So,” he prompts. “What are you doing here? No offense, but you don’t seem like the strongest person ever.”
“That’s rude,” you laugh. “I’m actually here with my cousin. She’s a regular.”
“What’s her name?”
“Annie. Leonhart.”
He hums and glances over to where Annie is sparring a tall man with trimmed and wispy facial hair.
“She’s a real beast,” he says. “There’s no one like Leonhart to really put your ego in check.”
“Have you sparred before?”
“All the time. You might even call us friends.”
“She’s never mentioned you,” you mumble. “What’s your name?”
“Reiner. And I’m not surprised. We don’t exactly get along.”
As he speaks, you notice Annie looking in your direction, her usual expressionless face flaring into anger.
“[Name],” she yells, finishing her sparring match by kneeing the man in the stomach. He rolls over on the mats with a grunt.
“Ohhh someone’s pissed,” Reiner says in a low voice, leaning down to whisper into your ear. “You guys really are close.”
When she reaches the spot where the two of you stand, she throws her ungloved hand in an aggressive shot at Reiner’s jaw. Surprisingly, he makes no attempt to dodge. Instead, he takes the blow and massages the beaten spot with his middle and ring fingers, moving his mouth in a circular motion.
“Don’t you dare mess with her Braun,” Annie growls. “I will fuck up your pretty face for real next time.”
“Do you think I’m pretty?”
“You get one warning.”
“I believe you Leonhart, don’t have to worry about me.”
“Jackass,” she spits, grabbing you by the shoulder. “We’re out of here.”
As she uses her harsh grip to guide you away, you turn, catching the devilish grin the blonde wears. He gives you a quick wink and holds something up in his hand. It’s your water bottle. You had left it at the fill station. Knowing Annie won’t let you go back in to retrieve it, you bite your lip and mouth a plea for him to keep it safe. Seeming to understand you, he nods before bringing the tip of the bottle to his lips and taking a long drink. Something about the way he eyes you as he sucks makes your body shake. You have to tear your gaze away from him, barely escaping his mesmerizing movements.
As you walk back into the afternoon breeze, Annie speaks.
“Don’t talk to Braun,” she mumbles, getting into the car. “He’s nothing but trouble.”
“He gives off fuck boy energy,” you admit. “I wouldn’t be losing much if I avoided him.”
That’s a lie. You’d lose the chance to feel his presence against you, strong arms framing your shorter figure. You’d never have the opportunity to get your water bottle back, which is the important part, not to mention his alluring gaze that examined you with hunger.
“Well good. He’s an ass.”
“He said you were friends.”
“He’s delusional,” she retorts. “Trust me, [Name]. He’s not worth getting to know.”
The rest of the ride home is quiet. You don’t dare to say anything more based off of Annie’s outburst. She turns up the music anyhow, warding away any conversation you might introduce. Directing your attention to your phone, you examine your texts, letting the words distract you from the interaction with Reiner. Eren messaged you, several times, asking if you were free. You smile at the gifs and emojis he sent you. He is adorably desperate sometimes, mostly as a joke, but your heart beats faster in your chest just thinking about him and his loving, turquoise eyes.
“Do you care if I miss dinner to go over to Eren’s for a movie,” you ask Annie as she pulls into the driveway of your condo.
“Not at all,” she replies, having calmed down after her altercation with Reiner. Drives usually help her relax. “I was going to ask Armin over anyway.”
“I guess he and I will switch spots then,” you giggle. “When are you going to tell other people that you’re dating?”
She shrugs. “When we feel like it. I enjoy the secrets and forbiddenness of it all, you know? It’s exciting.”
“Fair, but let me know so we can finally go on double dates.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“What, is a double too domestic for you?”
“Exactly that,” she mutters, unlocking the door and kicking her shoes off into a corner.
You can respect that. Annie is all about adrenaline, and if someone else’s energy cramps her style, she isn’t afraid of leaving or letting them know. It’s something to get used to, and when you were younger you thought she hated you. In reality, she couldn’t bring herself to tolerate your awkwardness and would distance herself because of it. After growing up a bit more, you were able to overcome some insecurities and became adequate company in her eyes. In all honesty, you love spending time with Annie, delighted to watch her more hidden sides come out when she curls up with Armin, or laughs on a roller coaster. She’s underrated, and you wish more people would take the time to know her like you did.
“Well,” you counter. “I think it’s a great idea. Besides, it’d help you get to know the best man at your future wedding.”
“Shut up,” Annie throws a roll of paper towels at your head. You don’t have the reflexes to effectively evade it, and the object whacks your neck with its plush flaps of paper.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” you laugh, returning the roll to its spot on the counter. “But really, I’d love it if, when you’re comfortable, you’d think about joining us.”
“I’ll think about it.”
That’s the best response you can ask for.
She always showers first. Partly because she’s quicker, and partly because you are notorious for hogging all the hot water. That’s probably your fatal flaw as a roommate, but it’s not the most horrible situation ever. Annie dealt with a girl her freshman year who invited a different boy toy over every night. Back then, she lived in a shared room as part of an on-campus dorm. The roommate, Hitch, was horrible, having loud sex while Annie tried to study or read. Needless to say, the two didn’t get along, both stubborn, both proud. Annie could beat Hitch up any day in a physical conflict, but violence wasn’t the answer in this case (and it probably would’ve forced your cousin out of the university).
The act that finally ended it all was Annie playing a combination of the most bizarre porn imaginable and death metal music whenever Hitch and one of her many escorts attempted to settle in. When Hitch established “regulars” (boys she liked sleeping with more frequently than others) the conditioning became so bad that if Annie played the music from where she sat on the couch, the boy would get a boner as he walked in, simply from the association. This pissed Hitch off and she finally became a little more considerate.
Annie is not one to be challenged. And she learns from her experiences.
Generally, Freshmen are required to spend their first year in the on-campus dorms, but because Annie was family, you were able to apply for a waiver that allows you to live with her in an inexpensive, slightly worn down, but otherwise nice apartment. She saved you from potentially reliving her horrible experience. She cares, even though her face doesn’t always show it.
“Shower’s all yours,” she calls as she exits the steaming room, her blonde hair barely falling on her shoulders, a towel held closed at her chest.
“Thanks.”
You enter the bathroom, noting how the mat is slightly damp from where Annie had stepped out from the bath. Letting the water heat up for a moment, you slip out of your workout clothes and face the showerhead, letting the heated beads spray your face and roll onto your chest. You stand there unmoving for a few minutes before finally reaching for your shampoo to lather the fragrant gel into your hair.
When you finally finish and glide into your room to change into an oversized T-shirt and some lounge shorts, you can hear Annie greeting Armin in the front room. A smile forms on your lips as you listen to the two of them talking, their voices getting quieter until the sound of their conversation is muffled completely by Annie’s door clicking shut. Choosing a fresh pair of socks, you leave your room to put on some sneakers and wait on the couch for Eren to text you when he approaches the front of the apartment.
It doesn’t take long for him to announce himself, and you bounce out the front door, keys tucked in your palm, grinning at the brunette who winks at you from behind the wheel of his hatchback.
“Hey you,” he greets, reaching over to place his hand on its usual spot on your thigh. “How was the gym?”
You shrug, tracing circles on the soft skin of his wrist. “It was good. I’m still really sore from squats yesterday. Oh! I also ran into this dude who was absolutely huge.”
“Yeah?”
“I asked him for some tips to give you and he just said what everyone else does so that wasn’t super helpful.”
“Let me guess,” Eren says smirking. “Protein? Living at the gym? Maybe steroids if I’m desperate?”
“Yes, yes, no,” you reply as you glance out the window.
Eren, also a Freshman, lives on campus in a nice apartment with a private room. You’re thankful for this since it makes spending time with him more comfortable than having to sit in the front room all the time, subject to the stares and teasings of his roommates. His place is only a seven minute drive from where you and Annie live, which is convenient for both you and Armin, who would walk about twenty minutes to avoid being outed by the presence of his car out front.
“Would you prefer it if I were hulkier,” Eren asks suddenly.
You turn to him with a creased brow. “Eren,” you begin. “I like you just the way you are. If you have a goal in mind then I’ll do what I can to support you, but I’m in love with you because you’re you, not because you have a certain body type.”
“That’s a shame, because I love you for your body,” he jokes, giving your leg a little squeeze.
“Shut up,” you laugh. “I’m serious though. I think you look great.”
“You always know what to say to make me feel better.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice.”
You lean over to place a quick kiss on his cheek. His skin is soft and warm beneath your lips, the faintest wisp of cologne lingering around his neck. How could someone smell hot?
“You smell nice,” you whisper.
Eren blushes at your comment, turning his head away from you in a failed attempt to hide the redness that grows on his face. Thankfully, he pulls into his designated parking space, and the two of you head into the complex, him swiping his ID to enter. The walk to his room stretches long and tense, but you can be patient. Barely.
You wait on his bed as he locks his door to thwart any unwelcome company.
“Weren’t we going to watch a movie,” you ask innocently, drawing your knees to your chest.
“We can,” he replies, sitting down next to you, taking your body in his arms. “Or we could do something else.”
You lean into his chest, loving the way his warmth envelopes your figure. “We could.”
You look up at him and place a hand along his jaw, shifting your position to sit facing him in his lap. Wrapping your arms around his neck as he backs further onto the bed, leaning against the wall, you let your breath inch closer until your noses touch. He closes the gap abruptly, lips catching yours in a passionate expression. You feel him grab hold of your waist, sneaking to rest an eager grasp beneath your shirt. His fingers feel cold pressing against the heat of your torso, a sensation that pushes a whine from your throat as you bring yourself closer to him, hands daring to tangle into his hair, undoing the messy bun he wears.
Soon, your lips part entirely, inviting his tongue to twist along yours in the clumsy way it always does. He’s the only boy you’ve ever kissed, and you assume this is how things should be. It feels nice, so nothing could be wrong with it, right? You’ve been meaning to ask Annie about what made a good kiss, but you always forget. Still, you find yourself pleasantly aroused by making out with Eren, flaming bodies wedged against each other. You usually end sessions like this, him looming over you, lower halves perfectly aligned, the layers of clothing between you unable to hide his hardness and your desperation. One of you tears away from the other and then you breathe, satiating your body’s need for oxygen.
You never go any further than that. He rolls over and takes you into his arms. With your shirts removed, you enjoy the smoothness of his skin against your back, shivering as he places delicate kisses along your neck and shoulders, sometimes daring to leave shy, red marks as he goes. Every now and then you gasp at the sharpness of his love bites, a sound that elicits a deep rumbling of pleasure or approval from his chest. This is all you ever do.
And it’s nice. You have no experience with sex, and Eren once mentioned that he didn’t either. Some people see this as pathetic, you being a virgin and not having your first kiss until college, but you’re glad you shared it with Eren instead of a more awkward and infuriating high school or even middle school boy. When you’re ready, you’ll make an extra push for something more. For now though, leaning into his presence appeases you enough.
“Do you still want to watch a movie,” Eren asks, breath nipping at your ear.
“Can we stay like this for a while,” you reply.
“Sure. Would you like to stay the night? Your first class is in the afternoon tomorrow, right?”
You nod. “If your roommates don’t mind then yeah, I think it’d be nice to stay. Can I borrow something warmer though?”
He presses a chaste kiss against your neck. “Only if you promise to give it back.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Then you’ll suffer.”
As he speaks, he jumps up from where the two of you spoon and grabs a pillow, crashing it down on your resting form. You yelp in frustration, stumbling off the bed with his comforter clutched in your hand. He manages to stay on the mattress, resting on his knees triumphantly as you tangle your limbs free from the heaviness of the blanket.
“Sneak attacks aren’t allowed,” you protest.
“Since when?”
“Since now and forever,” you huff, throwing the heavy blanket onto him.
“Oh come on,” he pouts, pushing the cloth from his lap and joining you on the floor, tenderly holding your face in his hands. “It’s fun.”
“Not for me,” you reply.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his bottom lip jutting out in mock pity.
You give him a little push, laughing at his antics.
“I’m too tired for this,” you say with a tiny yawn, daring to move and curl up into his bed.
“It’s not even ten yet,” he protests. “You can’t seriously be trying to go to sleep now.”
“It’s been a long day,” you mumble with a shrug. “Besides, my body is sore from working out with you and Annie. It’s a little much.”
“Do you want to skip tomorrow and take a break?”
“I can’t say no to leg day,” you admit, tucking yourself away beneath the covers as best you can. He follows, wrapping himself around you until you are cradled safely in his chest.
“You forgot the light,” you point out.
He groans and rolls out of the bed, snapping the switch down. “Happy now?”
“Happier when you come back into bed.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
He returns to his position holding you, warm breath billowing onto your neck.
“Goodnight,” he whispers against your skin.
You say nothing in reply, instead opting to answer by snuggling closer to his warmth, loving the way his arms secure themselves around you.