ReinerXReader

Chapter Four

   *Four Months Later*

   Today we ship out to our future. The future of escaping the walls that capture us and ending the titan's reign over all. God, how am I so nervous about this? I've only heard awful stories about the recruits and how many gave up on their first day. Many would prefer to man the fields rather than continue their military training. I shudder at the thought.

   "Cadet Arlert, why is a runt like you here?" Commandant Shadis yells. I wanted so bad to look over at Armin but I forced myself to continue facing forward and stay in formation.

   "You'll make a light snack for the Titans regardless." Commandant Shadis moves on and continues on to the next recruit, leaving Armin alone. He walks past a few more, tells some off and for the row to about face, then stops at me. He looks me up and down and grins mischievously.

"Well how'd they get such a pretty little thing to join? Why did you join? You look as if you'd fall apart if you so much as lifted a sword." His eyes bore into mine as if he was challenging me. I shut out everything except for my response. It wasn't important but I had to answer.

"Sir, I wish to take down all Titans in my sister's memory. In honor of all humanity I will defeat the Titans!" I place my fist over my heart and yell out loud. Commandant Shadis only chuckles darkly and moves on to the new recruit.

I breathe a breath of fresh air, glad that he had found another to interrogate. My eyes wondered around the ranks near me to see if I recognized anyone here. So far, I had only noticed Eren, Mikasa, and Armin. There were others who looked familiar but I didn't know their names. My eyes continued their scan as far as they could when they stopped at a familiar blond man. The one who saved me, I think. Is he here? Could that really be him? So he did survive, thank god. I made a promise to myself to find him after our initial formation. Maybe during dinner if they didn't have assigned seats or something similar.

*Time Skip to Dinner*

I take my tray of unflavored gruel and look for the blond stranger. Amazing how I still don't know his name and I've met him twice now, once while saving me from hell. I survey the room, over each table that had people until I saw him. He was sitting at the edge surprisingly alone. I sat my tray down to the right of him. I expected him to say something or even acknowledge that I was there but he instead took a drink from his cup. I looked down at my food and began eating. I was afraid to say something first but I really just wanted to know the name of the person who saved me.

Almost as if he read my mind he spoke, just barely looking in my direction.

"Reiner Braun. My name is Reiner Braun. I remember you, I'm sorry again." He took another gulp of the drink. I smile, his apology reminded me of Clara. She was such a bratty sister but I loved her endlessly. This time Reiner turned his head towards me with a bored look on his face.

"Are you not going to tell me your name? That's the normal response when someone introduces themselves, you know." He looked down at my food then back to his and grumbled. He wasn't expecting me to talk and began eating.

"Ah, yeah. Um, my name isY/N L/N. Thank you, thank you for saying sorry. And, well, thank you for saving me from that titan. I wish Clara could've been saved as well, though." I whispered the last part but Reiner heard it, even though the dining hall was loud with everyone talking about the first day of training. He looked back at me and I could see a slight sense of guilt in his eyes but it quickly turned to boredom again. Of course he would feel guilty for not saving someone, and only saving their sister. I wish I hadn't brought it up now. It would've been fine if I had just said I was sorry.

"I'm glad to know your name now, but why here? Why would you join the scouts after seeing everything that happened?" Reiner sounded confused and spoke in between taking bites of the bread.

"I-" I was interrupted by the sound of Eren getting loud and talking about the colossal and armored Titans. I couldn't believe my ears, he said they weren't that bad. Of course I didn't see them but to make a hole in the Walls. To break through Wall Maria? They had to be strong, stronger than any titan to break the Walls. I was afraid of the next time they appear. I knew the Garrison hadn't caught them and it seemed like they disappeared into thin air. No one has seen them since.

"Stop acting tough, don't you want to be in the interior and not some cannon fodder? Why risk your life on that suicide corps?" I look over to a light brunette with a shit eating grin. He took a last gulp of drink and threw his head back into a laugh. It was obvious he was a slacker and wanted the easy way out. Eren knew this too.

"Your input doesn't matter, lazy ass! You just want to be cushy inside the capital and let humanity slowly die!" Eren spat at the brunette. I remember the commandant calling this man out earlier, I think his name was Jean?

   They both jump off their benches and ran to face each other. Eren was about to throw the first punch when a bell was heard, signaling the end of the dinner and forcing everyone to head towards the cabins for the night. I look down at my half eaten gruel and sigh. I clean up and get ready to leave but as I stand up, Reiner nudges my shoulder with his.

   "Stay out of trouble Y/N. You never know when the colossal and armored will make their next appearance." I paused, as he gathered his cup and tray walking over to the dump site for the dirty dishes. Did he just warn me? It was like those whispers I hear in my dream, but I'm definitely not dreaming now. Shaking away my thoughts, I follow Reiner's action and head to the female cabins. Tomorrow would be a test on ODM to see if we would continue in the course or not.

   *About 45 Minutes Later*

   I was sharing the cabin with three other girls. There were two sets of bunk beds parallel to each other on the sides of the cabin. I had a slight fear of rolling far enough in my sleep that I would fall to the ground so I was able to make a deal with the potato girl that I'd give her my bread for the lower bunk. There was also a tall brunette female with beautiful freckles and a short blonde girl with the bluest eyes you had seen. You had gathered around a table was in the center of the room and began to introduce yourselves.

   "My name is Y/N L/N. I came from Shingashia and well I only have my father left since my sister passed in the fall of Wall Maria." I forced myself to go first. I felt as the others were too nervous or distracted to.

   "I'm Sasha Braus and I will take anyone leftovers if you don't want them. Of course I've already made the deal with you Y/N, but if there are any takers!" Sasha glanced her puppy dog eyes at the cute blonde girl. She really knows how to lay with other hearts for food. The freckled brunette looked upset with the interaction and instinctively pulled the blonde closer to her.

   "I'm Ymir. You don't want to get on my bad side and you," she pointed to Sasha, "are already there. That's all you need to know." She finally released her grasp from the blonde and crossed her arms. The blonde smiled awkwardly and took a deep breath before introducing herself.

   "Well, my name is Christa! I am really clean so you don't have to worry about this place getting dirty or anything. I just want to be really helpful to all of you because we are going to be living together for the next three years until we graduate. If you need anything, let me know!" She closed her eyes and smiled big. I could tell she was just a natural friendly person, possibly the new mom of our cabin. Ymir grumbled in the background.

   "Well I'm glad to got to know each other your names but tomorrow if the test for ODM gear and I have to make sure I pass. I don't care if you all stay up but please don't be too loud." I smile and stand up to head to my bunk. I open the bedspread and get in. As my head hits the pillow, I think about how nice it was to officially meet Reiner after all this time. I fell asleep quickly with his warning in my head and reiterating my promise to honor my sister in battle.