⊹ ࣪ ˖ ─Jean Kirstein, MINORS DO NOT INTERACT
| Warnings:mentions of alcohol
—Jean didn’t even want to come to the party. Eren had begged him all week, saying something about “living a little,” which Jean took as code for “getting wasted and getting laid” But here he was, standing in the middle of the frat houses too-big backyard , red solo cup in hand, regretting everything.
“Bro, stop moping,” Connie said while making some random drink that looks like it would bring you to the afterlife; with Sasha sitting next to him eating chips, giggling at something he whispered. “Go flirt or something,,do what that jawline’s good for.”
Jean rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched. Connie was annoying, but not wrong.
You were sitting on the porch steps, half-listening to Armin going on about something involving the ocean . You nodded politely, but your eyes wandered. Just by looking he could tell you were tipsy, your eye’s met Jean’s for just a second. It was long enough to feel like a spark.
Jean didn’t usually go for eye contact. Too risky. But something about you made him feel like the risk was worth it.
He walked over, smooth but casual.
“Hey,” he said, hands in his jacket pockets. “You look like you need a break,”
You laughed, the sound a little surprised. “From what? Armin’s ocean explanation?”
“Exactly.” Jean grinned and nodded toward Armin. “No offense, man.”
Armin pushed up his glasses. “None taken. I’ve been told I’m more appreciated in quiet libraries.”
“Exactly where you belong dude,”Jean muttered smirking before turning back to you. “Wanna go somewhere quieter?”
You hesitated—just enough to keep Jean on his toes—then stood. “Lead the way.”
That night turned into something.
You texted. You met after school, first at coffee shops, then at the bleachers during Reiner’s football practice. Jean would sneak fries from your lunch tray and pretend it wasn’t a big deal when your fingers brushed. He’d walk you to your classes even when his were on the opposite side of the building.
You teased him for acting cool. He teased you for pretending not to like it.
Eren would whistle when he saw you together. “Look at Mr. Horseface all grown up.”
“Shut up,” Jean would mutter, ears pink, hand squeezing yours behind his back.
Even Bertholdt smiled once when he saw you two. That alone felt like a miracle.
One evening, weeks after that party, you were walking home together. The air was crisp, fall setting in. You passed the tree-lined sidewalk near the park where the streetlights flickered orange and gold.
You looked up at him, confused. “What’s wrong?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, his usual smirk gone. “Just… I like you. A lot. And I don’t know how to say it without sounding dumb, but I guess I don’t care.”
Your heart thudded. “So say it.”
“I like you,” he said, stepping closer. “Like, really like you. Since that night.”
You smiled. “I know. I like you too.”
He kissed you then. It wasn’t perfect—his nose bumped yours, and someone drove by honking—but it didn’t matter. It felt right. Real.
And from then on, it wasn’t just party talk, football games, or hallway flirts. It was playlists shared over earbuds, slow dances in parking lots, and quiet “good night” texts that meant more than anything.
©𝗸𝟬𝗸𝗵𝗶𝟬𝟬 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗿. 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱. 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗲𝘁𝗰.