#˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ Bookstore Boy

[arminsumi]

˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ BOOKSTORE BOY

Armin x fem!reader

Chapter index / Chapter Ⅴ

Overview; you and Armin slowly grew closer, kissing in the aisles and inviting him over to your apartment. Just the two of you.

Content; fluff

TAGLIST; @sad-darksoul @ringsofsaturnnnn @underthetree845

DM in my askbox to be added to taglists! 💕

Sharing that kiss with you put a smile on Armin's face for the rest of the month. Every day as he scurried around the bookstore, ringing up customer's purchases and shelving away books, he traced his fingertips over his lips and thought of you.

When you and him stole upstairs to the cafe for your book dates, he looked at you with a brighter light in his eyes. Slowly he became less socially awkward around you, and he even stopped having stuttering spells.

He was really warming up to you. He was becoming a friend. A good friend. Well, actually, more than a friend; that was evident when you and him secretly kissed in the secluded poetry aisle.

A pattern formed.

You'd stride into the bookstore, greet him at the cashier and ask "Are there any new arrivals?" and that was his queue to take you to the classics section so that he could show you the books he had recently shelved. Both of your feet would slowly wander to other aisles as you let an enrapturing conversation engulf you, the books lost your attention and blended with the environment.

Then your words trailed off, and he'd give longing glances to your lips a few times.

Armin seemed to adore pecking your lips while cupping your cheeks. Sometimes his hands slid to the back of your head and nestled in your hair. And he always pulled you closer, closer, until you were chest-to-chest in the back of the bookstore.

"Oh my god, it's half-past already?" Armin said, "I've gotta get back to work..." he said, reluctantly prying his hands from your sweet cheeks.

"M'kay, I'll be browsing. You're getting off early today, it's Friday right?" you asked.

Armin nodded, "Yeah."

"Wanna come over?" you asked.

Armin blinked, "Huh? What?" he seemed either taken aback or confused, you couldn't judge which.

"I mean, come over to my place. I've already been to your house a few times, y'know. Have you ever been in the newer city apartments?"

"No, not really. My friend Eren used to live in one on Ochre street, but he moved with his girlfriend to those apartments that line the riverbank. Y'know, the fancy ones?"

You scrunched your nose. "I hate that area, it's full of snobbish people."

Armin chuckled. "Really?"

"Anyways, so do you want to come?" you asked.

He nodded excitedly. "I'd love to, I mean, if it doesn't feel like an intrusion to you."

"Oh, Armin, why would it feel like an intrusion? Besides, I'm the one who invited you." you said laughingly.

"Right..." he blushed a bit, and pulled his shoulders together.

You swore that he spun on his heel like a ballerina when he left to continue working. Well, 'working'. It was a slow day and the most of his work was fixing broken shelves and organizing the children's book section.

"Let's go, loverboy." you said, greeting Armin outside after he finally got off work.

"Loverboy?" he blushed. "I like that."

The two of you began to walk quickly down the blocks to beat the coming thunderstorm.

"I think, actually, dreamboy would be better suited for you, since you've got that olden-day dreaminess about you. Y'know, like those men in those movies from the fifties." you said.

"I'd have to disagree." Armin chuckled. "And, anyways, I don't like movies from the fifties, if I'm being honest. The actors feel disingenuous."

"Really! I love 'em. They're so comforting to watch on rainy days." you said.

A moment later, the clouds let out a drizzling rain. You and Armin laughed down the street, ignorant of the world around you, completely in your own love bubble. Any passer-by could see that he was in love with you.

The drizzling rain turned to a complete downpour, so you and Armin rushed to your apartment.

You were giggling about something, probably about the fact you two were completely soaked. No, drenched. Your socks even got wet, completely soaked through. Your top was clinging to you, Armin's sweater felt the weight of the water.

When you fumbled with the key and your apartment door, Armin leaned against the wall to support his body; he was losing it laughing.

"I promise, this is my home, and this usually doesn't happen." you said, trying again. You kicked the bottom of the door, and then it unlocked.

"Worked like magic." Armin commented.

"I'm adaptive, aren't I?" you beamed, opening the door and motioning him inside.

"Very." he nodded, following you inside like a wet puppy.

You sighed the sigh you always do when you return to the comforts of your home. Armin looked curiously at your furnishings, admiring how your décor reflected your aura.

After dropping your keys onto the entryway's end-table, you squeezed the wetness out of your hair.

"God, it's cold." you commented, and then said something that made Armin blush until his cheeks were searing hot. "D'you wanna shower?"

"What? I – oh, you mean to get warm?" he stuttered, "Sure."

"What else would I have meant?" you teased.

He gulped and shrugged innocently.

Armin showered first, and he did so very briefly. He emerged warm, feeling fluffy, and when you went to shower yourself and freshen up alone, he tamely explored your apartment.

He peeked into your bedroom, and when he glanced at your bed, his mind raced with many thoughts. But he stopped himself, like someone quickly stops the flow of water out of a bottle with a cork.

The door to your study was wide open, so he went in, and his eyes went big. He felt like he was in his grandfather's library; it was wall-to-wall books. They were even piling up on the floor due to lack of shelf space.

His attentive gaze lingered on the book laid on your desk. It was a novel that he'd recommended to you; it seemed you were halfway through it already. That made him feel good, and he smiled to himself while browsing your library.

"You like it?" your voice suddenly sounded at the door. He jumped and turned to face you.

"Yeah, it reminds me of my grandfather's library... I feel like a little kid again." he said. His eyes swept the room admiringly, then he nodded to the book on your desk. "Are you enjoying it so far?"

You nodded enthusiastically, "It's kinda terrifying, but I love it."

"Sorry, I should have warned you. Lovecraft writes quite horrifying stuff." he chuckled.

"Have you read (...) yet?" you asked eagerly.

Armin blushed. "Oh... well, yes I finished it but I forgot to tell you."

You looked at him, impressed.

"You read all that in three days?"

"Actually, two."

"Good grief, Armin, you're a book eater."

He sighed amusedly at you, "I got nothing on my grandfather. He's the real speed-reader." he said.

You plucked a book from the shelf and opened it. When you playfully hid behind it, he laughed and asked what on earth you were doing.

"I'm hiding. You'll never find me within these two-hundred pages." you joked.

Armin came closer to you and lowered the book. "Found you." he said, his tone lower and almost sensual. "Not a very good hiding place. I recommend hiding in Crime and Punishment next time. It's five-hundred pages."

Your eyes met his. Because he had lowered his voice into a near-murmur, so did you. "D'you want to – um..." you trailed off.

Armin felt his heart beat faster. "Hm?"

You changed what you were about to say at the last minute, and the both of you knew it. "D'you want to have some coffee?" you asked.

His eyes stared through to your soul. He looked so pretty right then.

"Of course. I'd love some coffee" he said.

While brewing a strong coffee for Armin, he sat at the kitchen counter writing.

You weren't sure if it was a letter or a poem, but whichever, he seemed to be putting a lot of thought into it.

"Sugar?" You asked.

Armin looked up in surprise because for a split second he thought you were calling him sugar. "Oh, yes please, two."

"Two? Wow, you're a pretty sweet boy." You flirted with him. He chuckled and lowered his gaze.

A long silence passed wherein you languidly stirred two sugars into his coffee, and he scratched his quill pen on the paper. He stopped and looked contemplatively at what he had written. He seemed dissatisfied.

"What's the matter?" You asked.

Armin frowned. "I just haven't written poetry in a while. It's so stale..." he said self-consciously.

"Doesn't it just have to rhyme and then it's good? I don't know. I've never read poetry, except for that book you recommended." you shrugged.

"Well, there's a bit more to it than rhyming..." he said, then looked hard at his work. "This is bad." he said decidedly.

"Let me read it." You said, "I'll be the judge."

Armin smiled a little and handed the paper to you. He pulled his cup of coffee closer to him and sipped it while you read. He felt this growing nervousness as you read; what were you thinking? You seemed captivated by what he wrote, but Armin couldn't tell if it was positively or negatively.

"Armin," you began, "this is really good. Like, really good."

Armin clicked his tongue in disbelief.

"I mean it! Armin, you write like a real olden day poet. It's beautiful. You should be proud, not just anyone can do that."

He gave you a bashful smile. "Well, if you're saying that, I'll believe it I guess."

"Can I keep this?" You ask, clutching his letter to your chest. His heart swooned at that.

"Yeah, of course. But... I'll write you many more poems in the future, anyways." He smiled.

The two of you looked at each other for a long while, as if entranced. There were questions Armin wanted to ask; about you, about your life, about your past. Did you once love someone? Is it all new to you like it is to him? Would you be amused if he told you that you're his first love?

"Y/n," he said your name thoughtfully, "have you ever had a lover before?"

You tilted your head at him and didn't answer immediately, because you were half wondering why he would ask that.

"I have, but just two. The first broke my heart terribly, I was in pieces for years, and the second... well, that was hardly a lover at all. There was no connection between us." you said honestly. Armin listened attentively. Part of him felt childishly jealous that you'd already experienced love before him. "What about you?" you asked him, "have you ever had a lover before?"

Armin looked at you with those big blue eyes. He always had that adoring puppy-like look around you.

He seemed frozen in place for a while, but finally answered. "No, I haven't. You're my – uh..." he trailed off shyly.

"Really?" you replied in surprise. "I'm your first?"

"Yeah." he made a small smile. "You're my first."

"It's an honor." you smiled.

Armin fixed his eyes on his coffee, which had gone cold and he had only taken one sip, because when he talks with you he becomes so absorbed that he forgets about everything else in the world.

"I really like you." he said. "Sorry if I come off as childish or clingy sometimes, it's just... I've never had this before. Developing this relationship with you feels like... it feels like starting your favorite book, before knowing it's going to be your favorite book."

You looked at him in adoring silence. "So poetic." you mused.

He had an embarrassed smile, one so cute that you felt compelled to give him a kiss on the cheek.

He wasn't prepared for that at all, so he receded into a shyness that reminded you of how he used to be in the beginning.

"Wanna read with me on the bed? It's cold out here." you offered.

Armin felt his cheeks heat up a little. "Sure."

So you did read, sitting side by side together on your bed, which was tucked into the corner next to the window. The rain was consistently battering the pane, so after your insisted, Armin agreed to stay overnight at your place.

You were fully engulfed by your book's plot, but Armin was only pretending to read; he was too excited, too in a daze of love to actually pay attention to the words on the page.

Instead of being interested in what the character in his book was doing, he was interested in what you were doing.

Although your book had your attention, your eyes became sore with tiredness. So you closed them, thinking that you'll rest just for five seconds and then magically feel rejuvenated.

But actually you fell right asleep.

"Y/n?" Armin called your name softly.

Your head fell to rest on his shoulder, and he had no idea what to do about that. His heart was racing.

"Y/n?" he called your name again, almost in a whisper, while looking at you.

You mumbled sleepily in response. With careful movements, Armin pulled up the blanket that laid across yours and his feet, and draped it over you.

"Sleep well, my sweet love." he said, and confidently kissed the top of your forehead.

[arminsumi]

I ALMOST CRIED 😭💕💕💕this is so sweet and cute and i love it smmm!!

Armin Sketch Based on Bookstore Boy

This is an Armin sketch I did based on Chapter Three of Bookstore Boy by @arminsumi. It's a modern au multichapter post-time skip Armin/Reader fic in which Armin and his grandfather run a bookstore. Would recommend! ^^

! Please do not repost on any other platforms without my consent ! (Reblogging on here is fine)

I wanted to draw that scene where Armin is fixing his hair before going up to meet Reader in the café above the bookstore.

I know the mirroring isn't perfect, I've just never drawn reflections before, please forgive me! The story also entails that Armin is wearing a sweater of some kind over his button up shirt, but I wasn't sure what kind, and I'm better and just drawing button-ups, so I didn't add it.

(Watch me now find a bunch of things to fix and tweak now that I've posted this T-T)

Anyway, this was my first time drawing fanart of a fanfiction scene, so I was nervous, but I made it to share with the author, so I couldn't not post it.

I know it's not perfect, I am open to constructive criticism, I hope you liked it!

Have a wonderful day/night/morning/evening! 💙📖

[arminsumi]

˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐲

Armin works at his grandfather's bookstore and meets you. He's just a nervous boy learning how to be courageous in the face of love.

PLAYLIST

CHAPTER 1 08.27.22

CHAPTER 2 09.03.22

CHAPTER 3 03.03.23

CHAPTER 4 08.06.23

CHAPTER 5 22.07.23

CHAPTER 6 11.08.23

FINALE

🏷️; @sad-darksoul — @ringsofsaturnnnn — @underthetree845 — @oliviaissocool1 — @crisalidaseason — @koriinsan

DM in my askbox to be added to taglists! 💕

[arminsumi]

˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ BOOKSTORE BOY

Armin x fem!reader

Chapter index / Chapter Ⅳ

Overview; it's been some time since you visited the bookstore and Armin has been missing you a lot. But you appear just when the lonely blue-eyed boy is closing up shop for the day. His grandfather has invites you back to their house in the countryside for dinner.

Content; fluff, angst, kissing

TAGLIST; @sad-darksoul

DM in my askbox to be added to taglists! 💕

Armin melancholically lowered his chin onto the cash register and let out a deflating sigh. His grandfather gave him a sympathetic look.

"She hasn't been around in a while." Armin muttered.

He looked blankly at the display books in the window; they were all crammed together. There was an unmoved cart full of books standing nearby, which he hadn't had the energy or motivation to shelve away.

"She'll come around again." His grandfather assured.

"But it's been weeks..." Armin replied glumly.

There was a silence.

Armin sighed again and rubbed the side of his face with his hand. "It feels so quiet." He commented. It was clear in his voice how much he missed you.

"Chin up." His grandfather said.

Armin halfheartedly pulled himself together.

The working day had come to an end again and you hadn't been there. Armin assured his grandfather that he could close up shop himself, so he let him be and went to get groceries for dinner. Umi the cat comfortably napped in the basket that he carried.

While glumly locking the front door and rolling down the shutter, he heard someone shouting for him.

"Wait! Armin!" You called out, running towards the store.

Armin's heart leaped at the sight of you.

"H-hey!" He stuttered out in surprise.

When you reached him, you panted to catch your breath, "I-I guess I'm a little late... I forgot you closed at five."

After hearing your voice and seeing your smiling face again, it felt like not much time had passed at all since your last meeting.

"Oh... well, since you're here." Armin mumbled softly. He rolled up the shutter again and unlocked the door to the bookstore. "But we best keep the lights off, or everyone will think we're still open."

"Okay!" You beamed happily at him.

So the two of you found yourselves alone together in the bookstore, browsing the aisles in the waning sunset light. Though, admittedly, neither of you were really paying attention to the books; you were too busy catching up on each other's lives.

You explained that your schedule had gotten wildly busy. Armin felt a bit silly, because he'd been overthinking, and came to the conclusion that maybe he said something to drive you away.

It's so nice to hear his voice again, you thought. And he was thinking the same thing.

"Ah, I missed you." You laughed after he made an awful pun about something.

He stuttered, unsure how to respond, "I did as well." He managed to say, but barely.

In the back of Armin's mind, he was trying so hard to challenge his nervousness. He had so much to say. Sometimes he'd lay awake in bed, imagining the conversations that he wanted to have with you.

"I'm not good at speaking..." He admitted. It seemed random to you, but it was currently burdening his mind. "But there's a lot that I want to talk about with you."

You looked at him understandingly. "Hm... maybe we should write to each other! I've been sending letters to my friends lately, but they think it's pretentious." You laughed.

It lowered your spirits remembering that. You were so excited to send old-fashioned letters to your friends as a surprise, but only one of them was vaguely amused by the endeavor. The rest were indifferent, or called you pretentious.

"I'd say any friend who calls you that isn't a friend at all." Armin said honestly. "Personally, I think the idea is really sweet. I'd love to receive a letter from y- from a friend."

You felt your eyes light up. He may have thought he was bad with his words, but every time you talked with him you felt your spirits rise.

"Well, actually, now that you mention it..." You began shyly. "I did write a letter for you. I've been meaning to give it to you for weeks, but everything seems to be getting in my way. It's so annoying!" You complained.

Armin smiled and intently listened to you complain about your schedule and how everything seems to go wrong even when you're careful. You dug around in your bag and pulled out the letter.

"Wow, a wax seal and all? That's really pretty... where did you come by one of those?" Armin analyzed the letter's seal, admiring the pattern.

You shrugged, "I found it in my grandmother's attic. She had a whole writing kit, with a special fountain pen, but I don't know how to use one of those... so I just wrote with a ballpoint pen."

Armin laughed, "I like that. A fancy letter written in ballpoint pen." He said.

It was almost completely dark in the bookstore, except for Armin's phone torch, which he propped on the books to provide a small area of light.

"I know how to use a fountain pen..." Armin mentioned after a short silence. "I could teach you."

"Oh really! Then, we could write real old-fashioned letters – pretty ones – to each other..." You responded excitedly.

"I'd love that." He admitted, and then added with a half-laugh, "Actually, you know, sometimes I want to throw my phone into a lake."

"Me as well. I don't like receiving phone calls, or text messages. When I tried to write text messages more eloquently, then I got slapped with one of those 'you're pretentious' comments." You said.

"Was it the same person who called you pretentious for the letters?" He asked.

You nodded, "Yeah. I'm not sure why I still talk to him, I guess it's just because we've known each other for so long."

Armin felt a small pang of jealousy in his chest.

"Well, personally, I'm just bad at texting. And writing, too, for that matter. I don't think I have a single poem that I'm proud of." Armin continued, steering the conversation away from the topic of whoever this mystery man was.

"You write poetry!" You gasped, "And you never told me!"

"I'm not good at it..." He nervously ran his fingertips over the back of his neck.

In the middle of your conversation, the doorbell chimed.

Armin's grandfather appeared at the entrance with one hand carrying a basket filled with market vegetables and the other carrying a familiar Russian Blue cat.

At first, he confusedly asked why the store wasn't closed up.

But when he saw you and Armin standing in an aisle, he raised his head in understanding. "Oh, I see." he said, "Well, Armin, at this rate, it would be kind to invite the young Miss back home for a warm meal. It's getting late and cold."

"Oh! Um, sorry! Yeah... um..." Armin stuttered.

It felt like after the atmosphere between you and him was disturbed, that Armin's ability to speak significantly decreased. Like a river's flow turning turbulent after having been laminar.

"...Would you like to?" Armin asked, turning to face you.

How could you refuse the idea of coming home for a warm meal with a sweet boy and his grandfather?

"I'd love to, as long as you both don't mind having me." You responded kindly. Armin felt the tone of your voice shift since you were no longer comfortably alone with him.

"Of course not. Let's get going then." Armin's grandfather said, and you three headed out the store together.

⁕⁕⁕

The night finally took over the sky. Street lamps lit up, their globe of light appearing fuzzy and soft. You and Armin followed his grandfather like he was the leader.

Even though he said it was alright for you to call him Harry, you anyways called him Sir Arlert out of respect.

It was a long walk to their house. They lived quite far out of town, it almost felt like you were in the countryside, but not quite. Sir Arlert explained to you that this was the 'old people area'; all the veterans who dedicated their hearts in the war were serenely snuggled up in these well-built homes.

"You can't pry these homes from them. They'll never give 'em up." His grandfather chuckled. It amused you how some elderly people speak of other elderly people, as if they are not all the same age.

"To be fair, I wouldn't give up these homes either. They remind me of English cottages." You said.

Armin was being silent, keeping his hands shyly tucked behind his back as the three of you walked on the dirt road.

"But it isn't nice," Sir Arlert spoke, "Because for young people like Armin, who live with geezers like me, there are no people his age in the area; just more old geezers. It gets lonely for young men."

You tilted your head in thought. "I guess that's true."

"I don't mind it." Armin said, blushing.

His grandfather quickly responded, "Ah but you were moping about being lonely and sick of seeing the same faces until Y/n walked into the bookstore one day!" He said.

Armin blushed violently. He felt the heat searing from the top of his cheeks to the bottom of his jaw.

"Really!" You laughed.

You finally arrived at their home. It was old. And just like the books in their bookstore, it was falling apart. But inside, it was as homely and inviting as browned pages.

While Armin hopped around like a nervous bunny to prepare the kitchen for cooking, his grandfather calmly lit the fireplace and set the table at a snail's pace.

You helped Sir Arlert where you could, and went to light up some candles and gas lamps. It felt like you were in another era, it was wonderfully cozy and quiet, not like in the city where you used to live like an ant in a colony.

The fireplace crackled very quietly.

Armin's nimble hands peeled potatoes and carrots. He began chopping them up for the stew, and then you came to stand by the kitchen's archway.

"Need a helping hand?" You asked him.

His voice nearly got caught in his throat. "No, I've got it – OW! Fuck!" He yelped as he cut his finger.

"Are you alright!" You cried, and quickly rushed over to him.

"Yeah, I'm good." He stuttered.

"Aw, your finger is bleeding! Let's go to the bathroom to fix it up." You said, hastily wrapping a cloth around Armin's finger.

⁕⁕⁕

He felt conflicted; his finger hurt, but at the same time, if he hadn't accidentally sliced it, then you and him wouldn't end up alone together in the bathroom upstairs.

The bare lightbulb flickered above. The candle by the window made up for its lackluster illumination.

"Sorry." Armin apologized softly.

"For what?" You tilted your head.

"For being a bit much." He said.

"I don't know what you mean, Armin."

He was trying to string a sentence together, he was on the verge of saying the first word, but then you smiled and interrupted him.

"It's alright, Armin. You don't have to speak a word, I know." You said understandingly, gently cleaning his wound with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.

He nodded. "I-I'm usually not this bad at speaking..." He said shamefully. "It's just nerves."

"Do I make you nervous?" You asked.

He raised his face at you. His eyes were full of light despite being in a dim room.

"A little bit." He smiled lopsidedly, looking away the second you made eye contact.

"Sorry..." You say quietly.

"Not in a bad way, though." He assured.

You pursed your lips to keep from smiling. Armin did the same.

After nursing his finger, the two of you headed downstairs to continue cooking with his grandfather, and then joined together for a warm, homely meal.

Umi was in her own cat world, except for when you and Armin began washing the dishes; then she decided she wanted to sit in the dish rack.

"It's very cold," Armin's grandfather commented, "And there's a slight drizzle. If you want to stay for the night, Armin's room has plenty space. I'll get the blankets." He said.

Armin's heart panged in his chest. His sleeves were rolled up, and he had soap suds going up to his forearm.

"Oh, I don't want to be a burden... I'm sure I can make it home before the rain gets heavier." You said.

It seemed that the gods were trying very hard to keep you and Armin together tonight, because almost two minutes after you said that, a heavy thunderstorm broke out.

Rain cascaded down the roof's eaves.

Armin's grandfather went into the hallway to take out the blankets that were stowed away into a cupboard.

After washing up, he gave Armin these blankets, and then disappeared into his bedroom with a tired 'goodnight'.

⁕⁕⁕

Armin lead you into his room; it was a small attic room, as neat and composed as his style of clothes. He insisted that he take the floor, but you came up with another idea entirely.

"Why not the both of us make a fort, and sleep in it together?" You suggested.

"A-Alright." Armin laughed. His heart beat rapidly, he could feel it.

So the two of you built a plush fort together. Armin laid the base, and you brought the chairs and draped a mismatch of blankets and sheets over it. There were dazzling fairy lights strung by the window, and glow in the dark stars on the ceiling; towers of books threatened to spill over.

The two of you kept your voices hushed and gentle throughout the night.

"I like your room." You said, laying comfortably in the fort that the two of you made.

"Oh... thanks. I actually kind of hate it." Armin said.

You laughed, "Why? What's the matter with it?"

"Well, it's small and sad." He chuckled, "Just like me." He joked.

"Armin!" You laughed with him. "I don't think it's small and sad. It's full of life, and it's got your feeling plastered all over it."

He rolled onto his side to look at you. Such a simple thing, yet it took such courage. You felt really close to him, it was like the two of you were in a bubble that the world couldn't pierce.

"What do you mean, my 'feeling'? Is that good or bad?" He asked.

"It's good." You assured him.

He smiled a little.

Although he seemed so shy and gentle, there was something in his eyes that told you another story of his personality. He was a book that you had only just begun reading, but you wanted to skip in between the pages to answer all the questions you had about the plot.

"Armin, do you consider yourself a romantic person?" You asked. It seemed random to him, and made him blush.

"Well, sort of..."

"What do you mean, 'sort of'?" You smiled under the dim light.

Armin felt lulled by your voice.

"I've never really felt like I've been in love before meeting you." He blurted out.

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

The two of you looked at each other. You began laughing, and he did too.

"Sorry." He mumbled, hiding his face into the pillow. He recoiled so much, you felt his warmth leave your air.

"Don't hide away! I'm not startled, I'm just surprised. I didn't expect you to admit to that now." You said.

"You mean... you already knew that I like you?"

"Oh, definitely. I knew from day one." You laughed.

"Really!" Armin let out a long groan, "That's embarrassing. I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable."

You shook your head, "I like you very much, too. I'll be honest, most of the time when I came into the store to browse, I wished that you'd come up to me and say hello." You admitted.

That was a surprising revelation to him; he would have never thought that you were wishing for that.

"I meant to say hello many times, my friend always encouraged me to." He said.

"And why didn't you?" You asked teasingly.

"I was too shy and too nervous." He admitted simply. "I overthink a lot, it stops me from going after what I want."

A silence passed. You looked at him with glittering eyes. Armin really felt like kissing you right then, he was thinking very hard about it.

"Am I something that you want?" You asked.

Armin blushed.

"Yeah." He said.

You were trying to figure out how to tell him that the feeling was mutual, but then you realized that words are not necessary sometimes.

So you went in for a kiss. A swift, gentle kiss. All the meaningful feelings that words couldn't contain were expressed there, on both of your quivering lips.

[arminsumi]

˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ BOOKSTORE BOY

Armin x fem!reader

Chapter index / Chapter Ⅵ

Overview; Armin asks you on a date to the art gallery. Well, actually, he needed the help of an old best friend to make that happen.

Content; fluff, slight angst between Eren x Armin

DM in my askbox to be added to taglists! 💕

For Armin to ask you out from himself he needed an immense surge of courage. Usually he derived that from a pep talk with Connie, but he was on vacation in a foreign country.

So...

"Okay, Eren, you're Y/n and I'm... well, me. Okay? I'll ask you out and you try respond how she would." Armin instructed his friend carefully.

Eren was leaning nonchalantly against the bookshelves. "I don't know a damn thing about this girl, and you want me to imagine how she would respond?"

"Come on, just help me out here." Armin whined. "Please?"

Eren gave an exasperated grunt and reluctantly played along with him. Armin thought it was depressingly funny, how once their souls were intertwined with one another, but disconnected at one of life's unexpected crossroads.

They used to be best friends.

"Y/n, um, so th-there's this art gallery – you've probably been there before, but they've renovated it recently and – and I was thinking – if you're free – " Armin rambled.

Eren interrupted, "Get to the point." he snapped.

"Hey, Y/n wouldn't snap at me like that! She's a patient listener."

"Well I'm not." Eren said bitingly.

Armin tilted his head at the brunette sadly. Eren thinned out his lips regretfully.

"Sorry." he said earnestly.

Armin heaved a sigh to alleviate his chest. He tugged off his white knitted scarf and threw it down, taking a seat on the stack of books. His hand glided through his golden hair, then he rubbed his face, like he was trying to rub the tension out. But the tension was in the atmosphere, not inside him.

"We haven't seen each other in ages, you know." Armin said quietly.

Eren lowered his head in shame and refused to look at him.

A dim midday light filtered in through the bookstore's half-closed shutters.

Armin sat. Eren stood. Armin talked. Eren listened. All the while life and the sound of lunchtime traffic rattled the windows from outside.

It just wasn't like how it used to be between them. Why? Armin had spent countless nights trying to figure out why they drifted apart.

"You were the one that stopped calling me." Eren pointed out.

"Because I don't like using phones." Armin said, folding his arms defensively.

"That's not a good enough excuse." Eren looked at him. If anyone's eyes could rival Armin's in terms of intensity, it was Eren's.

Armin nibbled his lip and nearly cried. "Well, you also moved far away." he stated bitterly.

Such a simple statement upset the whole atmosphere in the vacant bookstore. Armin looked away tearfully, blurred vision catching the CLOSED sign dangling and swaying clumsily in the window outside the front door.

"I wanted to start my life, can you blame me for that?" Eren reasoned defensively. Though he was usually harsh, he tiptoed around Armin's emotions when he saw tears pricking his pretty eyes.

Armin considered his response.

After a short silence, he croaked with a quiet, subtly shaky voice; "No, I can't blame you for that. But I can still be upset by it. I missed you... God, Eren, I had nothing to do here after you left. I was so god damn sad. And then she — like some miracle — walked into my life and changed that. So the least you could do is help me out here... because she means a lot to me."

Eren was looking at the ground while he listened. A stiff silence engulfed the two boys.

"Okay. I've got a plan. I'll make this art gallery date happen for you."

"Thank you." Armin smiled at him. "Really, thank you."

"...since you're too much of a wimp to do it yourself." Eren muttered teasingly under his breath.

"Hey!" Armin giggled a little.

They had a brief moment of banter and teasing. It felt like old times, if only for a fleeting two minutes.

Everything ceased when there was a person tapping at the window of the store's front door.

Peering in from the other side was none other than you, the one who happened to be the sole subject of conversation for the whole morning and early noon.

"Is that her?" Eren quickly asked under his breath as Armin bounced quickly past the cashier desk to the entrance.

It was a stupid question. Of course it was you, because Armin's eyes lit up like a light show.

"Yeah, that's her." Armin smiled at you through the glass pane, and came to open the door.

He wrung it open, the bell chimed, and his face brightened at your presence. That pleasant feeling of seeing the one you love engulfed him from all angles.

You hugged him with a gentle squeeze, and so did he. "How are you! Why is the store open so late? It feels odd." you asked.

Armin's throat stuttered and staggered a small bit before replying, "My grandfather is sick at home, so I'm running the ship for a while."

"And that means the store will open when you've had the appropriate amount of coffees?" Eren mused.

His deep, smooth voice caught your ears. It was just a really good voice, no one can be blamed for being infatuated with it.

"Right." Armin nodded.

His eyes flitted between you and his old best friend. "Uh, Eren, this is Y/n, and Y/n... Eren." he introduced the two of you.

"Oh, that name sounds familiar." you commented.

Eren looked at you in surprise, "Does it?"

"Yeah, I think Armin mentioned you a few times in conversation, but I have bad memory..." you said embarrassedly.

"We grew up together." Eren said simply.

"Oh! That's right, now I remember."

Armin felt a strong jealousy bubbling inside his chest.

It grew and grew, like sharp vines under his chest. It grew stronger the longer you and Eren talked, because honestly? You two hit it off. And in the most peculiar way. Neither you nor Eren felt attraction towards each other, but Armin was convinced that there was a special feeling between you and him.

"I've got to head out." Eren said after the conversation tapered off, preparing to leave the store.

"Oh, where are you headed?" you asked him curiously.

He placed his hand on the doorframe and then, as he spoke his next words, made everything up on the spot.

"Actually... to the art gallery," he looked at Armin, "with my girlfriend – you two wanna make it a double date?" he invited.

You thought that was so friendly of him.

"Absolutely! I'd love to see the art gallery..." you responded enthusiastically. "Of course, but only if Armin is willing. Armin?" you turned to face him.

Armin's jealousy dissipated, a feeling of fondness and thankfulness replaced it.

"I'm willing." he mumbled shyly.

"Why the art gallery?" Eren's girlfriend questioned confusedly, romantically clinging to his arm. "I thought we were going to the countryside? A picnic would have been good... this is a rare sunny day."

They observed an oil painting on the white wall.

"Because Armin wanted to take that girl on a date, but he was too shy to ask her himself." Eren explained in a hushed voice under his breath.

"I didn't know you were cupid." Mikasa teased. Eren shook his head.

You marveled around you.

Something in the atmosphere felt magical. For a long time, you and Armin wandered the corridors alone together, in utter silence. No words were necessary. Especially not when they'd disturb the beauty of the silent paintings staring down at you.

He had no idea how it happened, but he ended up holding your hand. His skin felt soft, a little cool to the touch — your warmth made him fluttery.

You stood in front of a painting with him, admiring it as if through a dream lens.

"I've never been to an art gallery before." you told him.

"Really?"

"I planned to visit this one when I first arrived here, but never seemed to make time for it. You know how it is." you said. "But this is nice." you showed him a pretty smile.

Like so many times before, it seemed like Armin was going to say something. Something big; important, emotional – something that required a lot of courage to say.

"Do you want gelato?" he blurted out. "I'll go get some."

"I – uh, yes, sure." you agreed a bit confusedly. "Gelato sounds lovely."

So Armin disappeared down the corridor and Mikasa too, but she went to the restroom to refresh herself.

You went over to where Eren stood so you wouldn't seem like you were rudely ignoring him, when he so kindly invited you to a double date.

He was observing an oil painting depicting cupid. Something about it really had his attention and you didn't know why. He seemed amused. But you couldn't be sure, because his expressions were enigmatic. Reading them was like reading a foreign language that you only know two words of.

You held small talk with him, until he said something that steered the two of you into a meaningful conversation.

"Actually, Armin wanted to ask you out to the art gallery himself. I didn't even plan to come here today." he admitted.

You gasped on purpose, "You're exposing your best friend like this!"

"We're not best friends anymore." he said.

You dropped your playful attitude a bit, "What happened?" you asked curiously.

"Nothing, just life." Eren shrugged.

And though that was the truth when cut short, you could tell there was a long story behind it. He didn't elaborate, because it would make him get emotional. And you'd anyways have to sit through the first ten chapters of his and Armin's upbringings to understand it in its fullness.

"Oh, I see..." you said.

The conversation trailed off for a moment.

"It took Armin a long time to ask me out." you said. "I visited the bookstore an uncountable amount of times before he finally said hello to me." you laughed reminiscently, "was he always a nervous boy?" you asked Eren curiously.

"Sort of." Eren replied bluntly.

"Sort of? Could you elaborate?" you laughed.

"He's always been doubtful of himself. That's why he's never had a romance before, he never let himself fall in love, because he deemed himself unworthy of having a lover. And, I guess, inadequate to be a lover himself."

You looked at the brunette, he stood tall and straight, still looking at the painting. Past him you caught sight of your favorite blond as he approached the two of you.

Such a cute and soft boy. So gentle and sincere. Anyone can understand those traits about him from a mile away. It's the way he styles his hair. It's the cream-colored cutoff sweater over his white shirt. It's his way of walking. The slight blush that never leaves his face.

"It makes me sad when I learn these things about good-hearted people." you said, "If anyone in this world deserves love, it's Armin."

Eren looked at you contemplatively for a moment. He was thinking about the inflection you used when you said Armin's name. "Sounds like you're in love." he remarked observantly.

"Huh?" you blinked at him. His comment made your cheeks heat up very quickly.

Armin reunited with you and Eren, two hands holding cups of gelato. He had such an awkward yet elegant charm, it was hard to describe. But not even a poet could have described him.

He handed you and Eren gelatos, and talked about how he nearly tripped and dropped them on the stones outside on his way back. In the back of your mind, you were thinking about what Eren had told you.

Viewing Armin there in the art gallery felt dreamy, he had such warmth radiating all around him.

Mikasa returned from the bathroom and held onto Eren tiredly, refusing the gelato at first but nibbling from his cup eventually, and she gradually finished it herself while Eren held it like a cute boyfriend.

Armin was observing how they behaved as a couple. He thought about how badly he wanted to be that close to you, but you and him still had a ways to go.

"We'll get going in a little bit." Eren said.

"Aw, okay." Armin replied. "This was nice. Thanks for inviting us to join..."

"Of course." Eren bobbed his head noddingly, a stray strand of hair slipping out of his sloppy manbun. "We should... do something together sometime again. Just you and me. No offence, ladies."

"None taken." you chuckled.

Armin felt as light as air. Everything that once made him feel heavy in the past was becoming the reason for his weightlessness.

You and Armin still planned to stay at the art gallery a little longer. As Armin said, "The paintings have a demanding beauty, we have to look at them one more time."

While Eren and Mikasa were leaving, you accidentally called Armin Loverboy in front of them.

Eren looked teasingly at Armin. "Loverboy?" he questioned with raised brows, a smirk

Armin went pink in the face, oh, really pink. It was especially noticeable because of the palette of his appearance; the white and soft brown of his clothes, the honey blond of his hair, the ocean blue of his eyes.

"You embarrassed meee!"

"Sorry... Loverboy."

He giggled. You perched yourself on the bench in the middle of the wide corridor, stretching your arms out to balance as you walked along it.

White walls displayed a stretch of impossibly beautiful artworks, contrasting to the antique heartpine flooring.

A statue of Aphrodite stood at the end of the T-junction corridor, posed with ethereal beauty; she almost felt alive. You half-expected her to start running the comb through her hair.

But the only living souls in the art gallery were you and Armin; intertwined completely, undisturbed in an envelope of your love.

When you and him stopped to admire the statue, it felt as if the goddess of love was smiling down at the two of you, uttering wordless blessings upon your romance.

"Hey, dance with me, Loverboy." you said, encouragingly tugging the fabric of his sleeve.

He looked at you like he's never looked at anyone in his life, with eyes blazing like the stars in Van Gogh's masterpiece.

"C'mon."

You offered your hands to him. He timidly took them.

And so there you and him were, haphazardly dancing down the corridors of an empty art gallery during closing hours.

Giggling, stumbling, twirling, talking, exchanging an intimacy —a connection — that can't be described, only felt or imagined by the most imaginative mind.

At the closing of the day, while you and him were waiting on the bench at the bus stop, Armin leaned over and scribbled a poem on a napkin.

Though you kept naggingly asking him what the poem was about, he blushed and refused to say.

"Have patience, love." he said, and kept writing.

You loved watching him writing. He was so simply beautiful when he was in his element. Scratching lines out, rewriting them, contemplatively pausing; you observed him like an artwork.

"But the bus is here." you said when you heard it rounding the corner.

Armin's blue eyes blinked up at the approaching bus. The brakes sighed as it came to a rolling stop, the navy blue color inspiring the final words of Armin's poem.

"Alright." Armin hopped to his feet very suddenly.

He looked so happy. No, he radiated happiness.

"So eager to leave me!" you teased him.

He smiled at you and gave you the napkin with his poem.

"Read it when you get home; I don't want to be embarrassed in front of you right now." he half-joked.

"Okay." you replied in a soft voice. "When... when will we see each other again? I mean, besides at the store."

Armin's heart beat faster.

"We... could..." he began.

He was trying, he really was. The courage was building up inside him, though it faltered and he closed his mouth again.

"We could...?" you encouraged.

"Gimme the napkin back for a moment, please." he said, and took it to write something more on the back of it.

You looked at him curiously.

There was a long moment of silence that was filled with... well, love. Just love. A very pure and sincere love, the type that isn't fully acknowledged yet, and so isn't affected by the expectations of either lover.

"There – ah, the driver is looking impatient." Armin said hurriedly and handed the napkin back to you.

You shared a shy, departing hug with him.

As he boarded the bus, he placed his hand on the bus door frame, and looked back at you.

"Bye." he said.

"Bye, see you." you smiled.

"Mmm, yes." he said and looked at you. "Bye." he said again.

"Goodbye." you giggled.

He just couldn't go.

It was one of those never-ending goodbyes, because neither you nor him really wanted to be apart.

You watched from outside as he weaved through the crowded bus and took a seat.

He waved at you through the window.

The bus rolled back into motion and headed down the street before finally rounding the corner and disappearing.

You walked back to your apartment by foot.

Every movement you made, from sticking the key into your apartment door to pouring a fresh coffee, was done with a dreamy languidness.

When you finally settled down into bed with your beverage, you looked over at your pillow, and thought of when Armin was sat there reading at your side you not long ago. The memory made you smile.

Now alone, you read his letter.

After your eyes reread each line three times over, you wished you could text him. But that boy really didn't like phones, he always lost his own, and never read any messages from anyone. Who knew where his phone was right now, probably besides the pot plant in his grandfather's back garden.

In the art gallery, you experienced his wordless love. At home, you read the words that attempted to summarize his feelings.

The way I feel with you,

Is comparable to,

The navy blue of,

The sparkling sea I saw long ago.

On the back, there was his additional note. It was scribbled very hastily.

Spring is close, why don't we have a picnic by the lake? I know the trail to take =)

🏷️; @sad-darksoul / @ringsofsaturnnnn / @underthetree845 / @oliviaissocool1 / @crisalidaseason / @koriinsan

[arminsumi]

ok hear me out,,, a part 3 of visiting the bookstore armin works at, i love the way armin is written in it and hes so cute

˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ Bookstore Boy

Armin x fem!reader

Chapter index / Chapter Ⅲ

Overview; you help Armin put away books so he can get off work early for your weekly 'book date', and he mends the tattered one that you buy.

Content; fluff

Notes; Oh!! Thank you for reminding me. I loved writing that one so much! Anyways, I got a bit carried away and made this a fair bit longer. But I hope you like it!

Armin was scurrying about the bookstore, shelving new second-hand book arrivals with a hum on his lips, when you strolled through the entrance of the store.

"Hi!" You greeted him, trotting to meet him.

"Oh! I — wh — uh hi! — OW!" He cried out, because the book he was trying to put away fell right onto his nose.

You had to laugh a little, "Are you okay?" You asked.

He nodded, "Y-yeah, I'm good." and rubbed his reddened nose. His eyes were a little watery.

You bent down and plucked the fallen book off the floor.

"Here." You said, and handed it to him.

He choked out a thank you, one so small and sweet that you had to smile. What a nervous boy, you thought. He was as nervous as a bird.

Armin composed himself, and then spoke, "You're — uh — you're here early."

"Oh, yeah, well! My boss let me off work early today, so I thought... well, I thought I may as well be early for our date."

"Oh... that's... nice." Armin blinked.

His mind was short-circuiting because of that last word, 'date'. Every Friday since meeting, you two had little writing and reading sessions at the upstairs cafe. But he never thought that you considered it a date... gosh, well now his heart was thumping loudly in his ears.

He went a bit blank, but reanimated himself just before he began staring at you in awkward silence.

"Um, I — well — I'll only get off my work at half-past... I'm sorry to make you wait."

"I could help shelf some!" You offered, nodding to the books in the cart. There were still so many to put away.

"Oh! N-no! No, you don't have to. Trust me, they're, like, really heavy. You'll get a sore back." He refused, swallowing nervously.

"Ah, come on. It'll go faster. And we can give each other backrubs afterwards." You joked.

Armin laughed nervously, "I — um — yeah. Okay." He said, and then did the thing he usually does when flustered; graze his undercut with his fingertips.

"U-um, there's lot of books that reminded me of y- that uh, that I thought you'd enjoy."

"Oh, which ones?" You asked interestedly, leaning closer to peer into the book cart.

Just that subtle increase in proximity between you and him had his heart on fire.

"Ah, there's two more Kerouacs... they're in pretty bad condition... I mean look at this one, it's almost coming apart at the seams." He frowned, picking out one of the books that was wedged in the cart.

"I don't mind! I don't mind at all... books that are falling apart are my favorite."

Armin laughed, "But why? I mean, they're so... annoying, I mean, while you're reading you're also battling to keep the pages from spilling out."

"I guess... but even still. I really like them. I'll just use some sellotape on them." You said, beaming down at the book. You already decided in the back of your mind to buy it.

Armin pulled his shoulders together a bit, and spoke in a shyer voice.

"I can mend that one for you, if you buy it. I mean, I — well — if you are buying it, that is." He offered.

"You can do that for me?!" You gasped, "Oh, I'd appreciate that so much."

Armin relaxed his shoulders, and swallowed sharply. "Yeah! Um, consider it repayment for helping me out..." He said.

"Alright, then let's get to work now, and you can fix my book later." You said excitedly.

And so you two started shelving the books, but Armin had become maladroit at shelving books all of a sudden. His embarrassment would have eaten him up alive if it weren't for your laughter and jokes.

He was dropping book after book, and placing the fantasy genres in the classics aisle. Really, he was all over the place.

After working through the top of the cart, Armin knelt down to take the bottom books out and hand them to you while you put them away. Which, might I add, was a grand feat, considering the shelves were overfilled with books. You had to really wedge them in.

"Hello there..." You smiled down at Umi, whose blue fur tickled your ankle.

Armin had let out a many sneezes because of the dust, but when Umi came he let out such a great sneeze that it scared her and she recoiled as if singed. You let out a big laugh.

"Sorry... the dust always gets to me. And I have a — a — ah — ah —" He nearly sneezed, " — ahllergies."

"Oh, how harrowing, Armin." You jokingly dramatized, meeting his eyes.

He looked up at you with a watery gaze, and blinked a few times to clear out the tears. Whenever you said his name, it had his heart levitating up to the clouds.

The two of you continued shelving books and bantering; you opened a book and hid behind it, and read lines from Shakespeare in a stupid voice to make him laugh.

And when Armin laughed, his grandfather looked over at the two of you. Wow, he hadn't heard him laugh like that in a long time.

You two took much longer than expected to put all the books away, but Armin didn't complain; it just meant he got more time with you, which is all he looked forward to every Friday.

After you bought the tattered book, you told Armin that you'd wait upstairs for him.

He squeaked out an 'okay!' and, as soon as you left, he reported to his grandfather about finishing work.

"Y/n helped me shelve the new arrivals... oh, but I forgot about the banisters..." Armin realized. He was supposed to sand down the wooden banister that Umi had gnawed to oblivion.

"Ah, do it another time." His grandfather dismissed.

"Really!" Armin's eyes glittered, "Thanks, pop!" He said, and quickly tore up the stairs to the cafe.

There was an antique mirror that hung alongside a collection of old war memorabilia and pictures; Armin stopped as soon as he caught his reflection, and grimaced a bit.

His bangs weren't sitting nicely, his night owl eyebags were very pronounced, his shirt collar was askew, and there were even bits of dryer lint clinging onto his sweater.

He didn't want to make you wait, so he very quickly neatened his appearance.

You caught a glimpse of him around the corner. If he knew that you could see him fussing over his hair, he would have died of embarrassment.

From the table you sat at, you watched as he combed down his bangs with his fingers, and then ruffled the tips. Then he frowned and did it again. He even checked his breath.

By the time he weaved through the tables to reach you, you were dissolving in quiet laughter behind your palm.

"What is it?" Armin asked innocently, sitting down in front of you. He dumped his satchel on the floor.

"Nothing... nothing." You waved your hand dismissively.

The golden light flooded the cafe, and there were scents of coffee and cake carrying into your lungs with each inhale. This small cafe was had the most pleasant feeling about it.

He was sat with his hands placed nervously on his knees. You noticed that he looked down a lot when talking, and that his one leg liked to bounce up and down energetically.

But when he drew his gaze up at you, the whole world stopped for a moment; the light at this hour hit his eyes at such a perfect angle that it revealed all the hidden, subtle colors that were swimming in his oceanic irises.

For a moment, Armin seemed too captivated by you to move. Then he suddenly reanimated himself.

"Oh, I forgot... I was going to mend your book." He remembered.

"Oh, right!" You hummed and pulled it out of your bag for him.

And so, for the rest of the evening, he mended the spine of your book and carefully glued the pages back into place.

His fingers were so careful and nimble, like he was handling a baby and not a book. At times, his brows furrowed together and he poked his tongue out in focus.

Laughter rippled down from the cafe loft into the bookstore like little waves, and it just made his grandfather smile up at where you two sat. He could see even from so far away how Armin's whole spirit brightened because of you.

[arminsumi]

Hey! I saw your reblog, “Bookstore Boy” is actually based on a real one you’ve been to?! That’s so awesome! I love being inspired by random everyday things, a random rainstorm got me to write a one shot that turned into a series ^^

Anyway, I just thought that was really cool! Have a wonderful day/night/morning//evening <3

mhm!! 💕 it's a second-hand bookstore, very small and there is an old man who runs it, he seems to cycle through employees seasonally 🤭he once hired this pretty cute boy, we flirted a bit and he tried to help me search for Virginia Woolf books (hehe that sounds familiar)

in the real bookstore, there's no upstairs cafe, and it's squeezed into such a hidden corner under stairs that i never realized it was there.

i always go straight to the classics and poetry section, they have some very old and tattered books which i love.

my favorite book that i purchased from there was falling apart at the seams even when i bought it, the pages were all browned and smelling of... 'biblichor'? anyways, the middle fell out while i was reading so i improvised and used lots of tape to fix it. (i wish i had an Armin to mend it for me like in the story, hence that's why i wrote that part in a chapter hehe)

and yes!! drawing inspiration from real life or every day things makes stories feel so special, it feels like a part of your life is in the story and i think that's important if you want to feel motivation for writing something big.

i love when i'm just going about my day and conjure a story from the most mundane tasks. personally for me, lots of ideas have been born from daydreams since i am quite an avid daydreamer 💭💫 i usually imagine scenes in my mind as vividly as i can before writing them.

hehe sorry for rambling!

sending sweet wishes and good vibes your way angel!! 💕

[arminsumi]

𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞 Ⅱ

Old Armin posts

#🐬Ocean Prince

— RivalryYou and Armin are rivals at college and he's falling for you even though he's got a girl

— StarboyFamous!Armin x reader

— Seaside birthdayReader takes Armin to the seaside for his birthday

— Panic attack comfortArmin comforts the reader during a panic attack (comfort fluff)

— By Your SideArmin is always at the reader's side through thick and thin (canon au)

— Husband!Armin wanting to be a dad

— Cuddle habits

— Sassy Armin

— Singing hcs

— Minecraft with Min

— Spidermin

— Texting

— Videogames

— StingStanding up for reader

— Together(Bf!Armin, canon au)

— Taking care of sick!reader

— You distract him while studying

— Shy!Armin confessing to shy!reader

— Librarian (clumsy!Armin x crush!reader)

— My hcs; one and two

— "Just a few things about Armin"

— Gay Armin things

— Obsessive/yandere

— Falling for bestfriend!reader

— Stargirl (famous!reader)

— StreamerStreaming a comp game with Armin and he keeps fumbling bc you make him nervous

— 1 AM tattoosPutting temp tattoos on each other at 1 AM

— PoetPoet!Armin writing love poems about the reader (1950s au)

— Working at a bakery

— Getting gelato

— Visiting an aquarium

— Accidentally saying ily

— Working at Levi's teashop

— Rainy days

— Coffee & Second-Hand Poetry BooksThis is basically the baby version of #˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ Bookstore Boy

— Fleeting Summer DaysSpending the summertime with bff!Armin

— My BoyEren and Mika setup a covert operation to find out if Y/n likes Armin 🫡

— LostNature date with Armin wherein you two get lost in the woodland

— Just a TextLowkey manipulative Armin always checking ur phone

— My Prettiest(tomboy!reader)

[arminsumi]

˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ BOOKSTORE BOY

Armin x fem!reader

Chapter index / Chapter Ⅰ

Overview; Since moving into town, you've been visiting the bookstore that Armin works at. He's got a sorely obvious crush on you, but he's too nervous to even say hello.

Content; fluff

"Aaand you're drifting off again. Did you even hear what I said?" Connie mused, but Armin wasn't really listening; he was looking at you.

You were perusing the cramped aisles, your eyes curiously scanning the bookspines. You had a habit of tilting your head while reading the titles, which Armin found utterly adorable.

It had been a month since you began visiting the book store every day. Armin was frustrated with his lack of courage; he really wanted to talk to you. He planned so many conversation starters in this time, but used none of them when you came to the checkout to pay.

A pattern formed; you would scan the book titles down a few aisles, Armin would crane his neck to catch a glimpse of you from behind the register, then after you had found a book, you would meet him at the checkout counter and flash him a sweet smile before paying and leaving. You know, he always looked after your wake when you left the store, too, and he internally kicked himself for not commenting on your book at all. He really liked your diverse taste.

"Oh my God, man, really..." Connie rolled his eyes, "Just go on and ask her out. You just know she's single if she's hanging out in bookstores every day."

Armin hissed for Connie to be quieter, a slight blush crowning his ears.

"It's harder than you make it sound." Armin sighed, leaning against the cash register, "I can't just, like, approach her and say — 'oh hey, I know you're looking for books, but do you wanna go on a date with me instead?'"

"Uh, yeah, you absolutely can do that." Connie said stubbornly.

Armin shook his head at him. He didn't understand how impossible it felt to him. Even his goodbyes to you at the checkout were shaky, so how could he ever talk to you?

The golden hour was approaching; such a tranquil light flooded the bookstore, and it created this serene-like atmosphere. The bookshelves were illuminated by this eye-catching golden light, yet Armin was not admiring that; no, in fact, he was admiring how the light illuminated you — you seemed downright dreamy to him. This perception of you was only emphasized by how you floated down the aisles, like a goddess, Armin thought.

The bookstore cat stalked around, drawing closer to you with its blue little paws. Connie didn't even need to ask what had brightened Armin's mood, because he saw by his eyes that a plan was brewing in his mind.

Armin waited until Umi got close enough to you to warrant his intervention;

"Sorry!" He said with a feigned guilty smile, then pried Umi off the shelf that you were observing just as she began to bother you.

"Oh, it's alright." You said, "I love cats."

Armin's eyes glittered at you, his voice was slightly hyper in tone, "Me too — her name's — uh — Umi." He said.

"Oh... Umi? What does that mean?" You asked curiously.

"It's — well — it just — it means — it translates to 'ocean'." Armin said, then gave smile that was more so an attempt to quell his anxiety.

"Oh! That's so sweet..." You squinted adoringly at Umi, then observed her greyish blue fur, "A British Shorthair, right?" You said.

"No... actually, a Russian Blue." Armin corrected confidently.

You could feel a tide of his emotions rushing towards you. He was so blatant in his demeanor that you could sense his feelings rushing towards you like an incoming tide.

Armin was paranoid about coming off as too excited to talk to you, so he toned it down a bit.

"Oh, by the way..." You began, "... do you have any Virginia Woolf books here?"

"Virginia Woolf? — Uh — wait, I'll check for you." He said, then swiftly disappeared from the aisle.

Armin's heart was thumping erratically. All he could think was oh my God I actually talked to her. She talked to me. I actually did that.

Connie nearly burst out laughing at how speedily Armin dashed behind the checkout counter. He checked the store's stock on the computer, his hands shaking a bit as he typed. Connie began to playfully tease him, so Armin hissed under his breath for him to shut up and continued searching the store's stock for Virginia Woolf books.

Armin thought that you had such an interesting eye for books. Sometimes you bought books that even he didn't know about (And, mind you, he was a big bookworm). He admired your diversity, too, because one day you'd buy Poe, the next you'd buy Kerouac.

His grandfather peered over the railing of the second-floor's coffee shop loft. He just had to smile to himself, because it was nice to see his grandson's melancholy dispersing because of you.

Both Armin's family and friend group worried that he was growing more and more melancholic by the day, and truly he was; he pressed his chin gloomily atop the cash register every day and waited for something interesting to happen. His spirits kept sinking, but then one day you started visiting the bookstore.

His family loved to tease him and say that he was falling in love with 'the bookstore girl'. There was even a running joke that you were 'the bookworm that wormed into his heart'.

When the database showed negative for Virginia Woolf books, Armin returned to you. In the small seconds it took him to walk down the aisle, he gave himself a pep talk so that he could calm down his overwhelming excitement.

You had been trying to play with Umi in that time, but she was the type of cat who scrunched up in repulsion when you tried to touch her, so you gave up.

"I don't think we have any Virginia Woolf... sorry." Armin said.

"Oh, that's alright — but thanks for your help." You said.

Armin seemed more composed now; his hands were neatly tucked behind his back, which was straightened like a soldier on command. His grandfather took note of this tell-tale posture; it's what Armin did when he was trying to impress someone.

Armin's eyes glittered with excitement at you. He realized he'd begun staring, so he abruptly reanimated himself.

He awkwardly stammered something like "...I'll get back to work... let me know if you need help again..." and retreated behind the checkout counter, where Connie giggled quietly.

You wandered from aisle to aisle for some time. If Armin knew that he had gotten your heart fluttering excitedly from that simple encounter, he'd be flying across the stars.

Finally, you plucked a book and headed to the checkout. Armin was blushing under Connie's relentless teasing; you noticed his red ears, but you had no idea what was going on. But you had to smile at the two friend's banter. They seemed to be as close as brothers.

"I'm taking this..." You said timidly, placing the book softly on the counter.

Even the way you gently placed the book down was something that Armin squealed about inside. You just had this... je ne sais quoi thing about you.

Meanwhile, you were thinking about his je ne sais quoi quality; he was so awkwardly charming, so sweetly nervous.

Armin rung the book up for you while you pulled out your wallet. You fumbled with your money in such a way that, to someone looking, it looked like you had robbed a bank.

He noticed this nervous quirk of yours. It made him smile and feel relieved to see that even you were nervous with such simple tasks in public.

Connie was holding back giggles while he observed this all.

"Thanks!" You beamed at Armin, "See you..." You said, taking your book and the receipt and leaving for the upstairs cafe.

"Bye!" Armin squeaked.

You ascended the stairs to the coffee shop's loft just as Armin's grandfather descended. Both he and Connie rung out with giggling laughter when you were out of earshot. His grandfather had this endearingly cheeky cackle.

"Bye!" Connie mimicked you.

"Shut up, both of you... you're menaces..." Armin groaned and rubbed his face.

They continued to giggle amongst themselves about Armin's squeaky goodbye while Armin observed you longingly. You looked so comfy when nestled into your usual seat with a new book. Even the way you pursed your lips to sip coffee made Armin feel fluttery. (He probably wanted to be that coffee cup).

Umi stalked up to Armin, and he looked at her with a warmer affection than before.

"I owe you some treats." Armin smiled, petting under her chin with his finger.

A subtle blush spread across his cheeks while he replayed each moment of the encounter between the two of you.

Connie came over just to wiggle his brows at his blushing friend.

"Ah, fucking hell... will you shut up..." Armin groaned.

"Well, damn... the next thing is marriage, right?" Connie laughed.

Armin sighed hopelessly, "I'll be lucky if I ever get to talk to her about something other than cats and books..."

He continued to observe you as you sipped coffee and focused intensely on the yellowed pages. Another Kerouac novel... the one which was his favorite, but he didn't even get to say that while ringing it up for you.

He felt this overwhelming urge to be in your company again, but instead of acting on it, he sulked behind the register and complained to Connie about his lack of courage.

[arminsumi]

˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ BOOKSTORE BOY

Armin x fem!reader

Chapter index / Chapter Ⅱ

Overview; you visit the bookstore surprisingly early one morning. The feline cupid, Umi, somehow brings you and Armin together again.

Content; fluff

Armin's hair was terribly disheveled this morning. No matter how much he tampered with it, the backside stuck up in that I just woke up way.

He complained about it to his grandfather until the eighth hour of morning approached, when they began opening up the bookstore.

"It's a good thing, then, that she doesn't come by in the morning, hm?" His grandfather mused.

Armin squinted his eyes annoyedly at his reflection in the bookstore's windowpanes. He really just wanted to retreat to his bed and sleep until it was the golden hour; when you'd pop into the bookstore.

But he had things to do. Books to organize and put away. Customers to serve. He was fussing over his hair while doing these all these things, constantly fluffing it up in the nervous way he did.

Who knows why you particularly decided to venture to the bookstore so early that morning. When you walked on in, Armin was busy retrieving the new arrivals from the back office.

His grandfather lurked tiredly behind the cash register.

"Morning!" You chirped at him.

He raised his face at you, and then raised his brows up to the sky. The first thing he thought when seeing your face was "Well, Armin is going to die of happiness this morning".

You lead your way down the aisles near the back. Something felt refreshing about being there so early. Though, you did love the dreamy feeling of the golden hour, too.

Umi's blue fur caught your attention, and you neared her as she leaped up onto the books that jutted out. It was like she was leading you to where Armin was, but you were oblivious. He was just about to emerge from the back office with a pile of books.

You thought you'd attempt to play with Umi again, despite her recoiling at your touch last time.

A wave of smug accomplishment washed over your chest when Umi didn't recoil under your petting. Her greyish-blue fur was the pleasant kind of soft under your fingertips.

Everything felt stilled then, like the world was muted. The silence was so thick that when Umi jumped onto your shoulder, you let out an audible yelp.

She stood precariously on your shoulder as if you were just like the books she paws across every day. Blue fur tickled your neck.

You were frozen in place, worried that if you move then she might lose balance and fall. Really, you didn't know what to do. So you just stood there, your shoulders scrunched up like ice water had been dumped on your back, with a cat proudly perched on your shoulder.

That was when Armin emerged from the back office. He let out a soft grunt because of the stack of books weighing him down. His grip tightened on those books when he laid eyes on you.

"Wh — I — uh — hi — hey!" He greeted you with surprise-blown eyes.

"Hey!" You greeted back awkwardly. The Umi was still awkwardly balancing on your shoulder, near the crook of your neck, her face peering around confusedly as if to ask "How do I get down from this human?"

Armin noticed the situation that Umi put you in; so he set the books down on the floor with a feathery grunt and tried to persuade Umi off of your shoulder.

"Umi! — I'm so sorry — Umi, come here — " Armin apologized in between his calls to Umi.

But Umi wasn't interested; she was in her own stubborn cat world.

You attempted to pry her off your shoulder yourself, but that resulted in her hissing a bit, so you stopped immediately for fear of earning a cat scratch.

Armin saw an opportunity of increasing the proximity between you and him, and boy, he took it eagerly.

His hands cautiously reached out to grab Umi, since she was definitely not going to leap into his arms by herself. You caught a slight scent of his fruity cologne, and noticed the messiness of his hair.

Armin took Umi from your shoulder and tried to cradle her, but she had an inexplicable cat freakout and haphazardly leaped onto the bookshelf. She quickly disappeared.

"Sorry — I — uh " Armin strained his neck to look after where she went, " — sorry — I'm so sorry about that. I don't know what came over her." He apologized, brushing the back of his hair with his fingertips.

"Is she fond of shoulders?" You laughed.

Armin relaxed a bit at seeing how you were undisturbed by the the newfound proximity. Oh, and yes, he was glad you weren't actually upset at his cat being mischievous.

"She's — um — well, actually — this has never happened before..." He huffed amusedly.

Armin's body language spoke volumes about how excited he was to see you this early in the morning. His hyper energy radiated outwards like a light bulb's rays.

"Um, you're here pretty early today." Armin commented.

"Oh, yeah..." You said, then shrugged serenely, "I guess it is pretty early."

You just couldn't admit that he was the reason you were visiting so early.

A silence engulfed the two of you wherein you just stared at each other, he with his lips slightly parted and brows raised, and you with a curious glint in your eyes.

Suddenly, Armin reanimated himself.

"Well — I — should — get — back — to — work." He stuttered out cutely, then clumsily lifted the tower of books from the floor.

Books spilled onto the floor haphazardly.

"I could carry some." You suggested, purely out of friendliness.

You should have heard the way his heart thumped at that.

"Oh — I — well, if you want to..." He said.

You smiled timidly, then reached out to take some of the book load. Armin's heartbeat was so hard that he felt paranoid you might hear it battering against his ribcage. It was like a trapped butterfly, desperately wishing to reach you.

Initially, neither of you talked much as you sorted the books away. You'd never notice, since it was so discrete, but Armin's grandfather was debating the situation with Connie.

He muttered something like "Go help that poor boy out" to Connie, to which he responded with "Roger, roger" and trotted over, preparing to play cupid.

Really, you and Armin were hopeless cases; the one was more shy than the other. If Connie hadn't done something, you two would have just gone on to silently bumble down the aisles.

"New employee!" Connie joked, and then introduced himself to you.

As soon as Connie took the wheel of the conversation, Armin relaxed. His friend was there to support him, everything was okay. He knew that if he stuttered, Connie could cover it up with one of his perfectly-placed jokes. Or if he choked on his words, Connie would finish his thought as if they shared the same brain.

"Gee, I'm so fucking tired," Connie complained at some point, "Let's go get some coffee upstairs."

"Oh, yeah! I was going to... actually." You said excitedly.

It was charming how oblivious you were to Connie's blatant plans.

God knows Armin was too much of an overthinker to ask you out for coffee. He often daydreamed at the cash register about how he could ask you to join him for coffee some day, or better yet, how he could outright ask you on a date.

So, you three ascended the stairs that lead up to the cafe and weaved through the clustered tables to reach the barista bar.

The smell of fresh ground beans infiltrated your lungs as if demanding you pay attention to its scent.

You ordered the usual, while Connie ordered a tongue-twister latte and Armin ordered a classic cappuccino. You three took to a table and waited. Connie was still acting as a catalyst. It was thanks to him that Armin found the courage to talk more.

Even his posture grew more confident as he spoke. The way his voice intermittently cracked absolutely endeared you.

Your orders arrived, and that's when Connie concluded his cupid act. He grabbed his cup and coolly announced his departure.

"Okay, well, anyways..." Connie said with finality, "See you 'round, my mom needs me for errands again."

"Oh, okay." You beamed at him. Armin paid attention to the way you smiled.

And, just like Umi, Connie disappeared after joining you and Armin together.

Just before leaving sight, Connie threw a wink over his shoulder at Armin. Armin's eyes tried to communicate thank yous, because truthfully without his help he would not be sitting with you having coffee.

You broke the silence with a random question, "Do you like the cake here?"

"Huh — ?" Armin's eyes glittered at you, his brows raised, " — Oh, yeah. I do. It's — I — I like the red velvet, it's the best."

"Oh! I haven't tried that one yet..." You said, considering adding two slices to your order, "We should get some."

"Huh — ? Oh, but it's so expensive... you should just get for yourself. I'll have some another time." Armin refused humbly.

"Don't be so humble!" You waved your hands, "Let's just enjoy some cake together. Isn't cake worth going broke over?"

Armin's heart wanted to leap out and hug you right then. Such simple friendliness from you had him all aflutter.

The cafe owner came to your table after you beckoned him, and asked what you needed. You relayed your order of two red velvet cake slices, and you exchanged a bit of banter.

"You know the owner?" Armin asked curiously after he left.

"Yeah! We chat a bit each time I visit." You beamed. Oh, if only you knew how that sentence alone got Armin's heart panging with silly jealousy.

But Armin that jealousy was overshadowed by his appreciation. He'd been so eager to talk to you since that encounter a few days ago. He even rehearsed conversation-starters in his head. But all his practice was for naught because his words came out as a jumble.

As soon as you two found common ground, though, that's when his voice grew more confident. He practically squealed "I know right!" when you agreed to his opinions on a book the two of you adored.

"He's just so eloquent... I wish I could write like him." You swooned.

"You write?" Armin asked excitedly.

You shrugged, "I'm not a writer... but I write. If that makes sense. I'm not very good at it."

"I'd love to read your work..." He said shyly.

He didn't want to come off as too privy or excited, but by now his irises were putting all his intensity on display for you to marvel at.

"Sure..." You smiled, hushing your voice a bit.

Armin thought he saw heaven flicker across your eyes.

"Maybe we could — meet — here — and uh..." He stuttered out, then swallowed very awkwardly, " — write together, if you want to? Or, I mean, if you don't have time, that's okay too!"

"Yeah!" You exclaimed immediately, "Yeah... I'd love to. I've always wanted to have a writer friend."

Oh my God, do you have any idea what effect those words had on his heart? He was sure he'd succumb to the most delightful heart attack that any man could experience.

All this time you felt like a distant star that he could never dream of reaching, but it seems fate plucked you out of the sky and put you in his life.

The cakes you had ordered now came to your table. Armin would forever associate the saccharine taste of red velvet cake with you, and you'd associate your caffeinated beverage with the energy that he induced in you that morning.

Although Armin's mind read like poetry, he never seemed to speak his thoughts well. But you admired his clumsy way of speaking, something about it was charming.

The two of you basked in each other's company for a bit longer, until Armin's sense of responsibility kicked in and he realized he should return to work. He thanked you profusely for the cake, and trotted downstairs.

"Armin!" You called after him quickly.

He looked back at you, and in the back of his mind he thought this was going to play out like a movie scene.

But you just laughed, and said, "You didn't give me your number!"

"Oh!"

So he gave you his number, and then returned to work. His heart sang for the whole day.

Maybe mornings weren't that bad, he thought.