ReinerXReader

Chapter Five

   Mikasa is amazing. She truly was the prodigy of our class. As the commandant had each of us try to hold ourselves up, very few had done it with ease. A man with a shaved head seemed to do it so easily. A blonde female with an intimidating face passed with flying colors. It almost was boring to her that she even had to show off. My eyes glazed over as I saw Reiner on his turn. The side of my mouth turned up into a small smile. Please pass Reiner, I thought silently. As easily as he walked up there, he was balanced. I swear as he centered himself he looked at me and smirked. I had to calm myself but I was internally screaming.

   Soon enough it was my turn. I took three deep breaths then attached myself to the gear that was about to pull me up. After swallowing my nerves I nodded at the commandant as he ordered to pull me up. I reached a decent height then immediately fell forward. As I pushed myself up I saw Reiner's face in a scowl. I nodded at him, telling myself I would pass. For Clara. I blew the hair out of my face and forced myself to balance. I would not fall again. After steadying myself for a few seconds, I paused. Thirty grueling seconds went by and I yelped for joy. I had passed!! I looked over to Eren, Mikasa, and Armin and they cheered me on. Only Eren was left in our group.

   "You got this Eren. Please make it o we can kill the Titans together" I whispered to him as we switched spots. He nodded back with a fury in his eyes. I knew he could do this. He attached the gear and soon was up in the air just like the rest of us before. He smiled, thinking he got it, until his body fell backwards and smacked his head on the ground. Groggily, he asked to try again. Maybe he was like me. Maybe he just needed a second try. I pleaded silently that Eren would pass. He had to pass.

   Then the second try came and went. Eren this time fell forward as he overcorrected himself from his last try. The commandant order for his to be released and sent to the infirmary to be looked at. Mikasa and I looked at each other and gasped. The commandant had ordered Mikasa to walk with Eren and stay with his while the nurses patched him up.

   We were released for the day at that point as testing for the ODM gear was the only event for today. It was relatively early as we had finished about an hour before dinner time started. I decided to spend this free time to read in a cozy spot outside. It was early October and not too hot. Perfect for finding a shady spot and cozying up until dinner. I went to my cabin to grab my book but as I walked out I ran into Reiner.

   "Oh excuse me Reiner. I'm sorry for bumping into you." I try to side step around him but he grabs my free wrist.

   "Funny how I'm always running into you. I was actually looking for you this time though." He smiled and released my wrist. I quirked my eyebrow up, giving him a questioning look. Why would he?

  "I was hoping we would sit together again for dinner. I'd like to have an actual conversation with you tonight. I think I scared you yesterday." He laughed and it made me warm inside. Why? He then noticed the book in my hand and realized why I was walking out.

   "Would you mind reading to me?" I looked up at him, my face going blank. He wanted me to read to him? I opened my mouth and was about to say I just wanted to read alone until dinner but I ended up agreeing.

   "Yes, I was headed to a quiet spot anyways. You can follow me, though I don't know where it is though." I started walking off in a random direction away from the cabin. I hear Reiner chuckle behind me and turned around.

   "There's a spot I found last night that had a nice view. Let's try it. It's a short distance from here so if we are quick we should have a good thirty minutes before we have to head in." I ended up following him and it led us to a clearing. I walked to the edge as it seemed to be a drop off on the other side and look at the horizon. It was beautiful with the sun sinking into the mountains around us. It wasn't quite sunset yet but the sun was lower in the sky about to begin its descent into night.

   "This is so pretty. I would've never found this place. How did you find it?" I looked to Reiner and he hadn't taken his eyes off me. Smiling gently, he just shrugged. He point to a tree that was a few feet away and I sat against it.

   I open the book to where I left off. It was the same book I was reading when the Titans attacked. When my sister was at the river with Eren, Mikasa and meeting Armin. Before the nightmare that those Titans created. I felt water dripping onto my books pages before I realized I was crying. How could I look so vulnerable in front of someone, especially Reiner. He hadn't saved me for me to show weakness now. Reiner had sat on the other side of the tree and wondered why I hadn't started reading yet. He leaned over and turned to look to me. He was surprised to see me crying into my book.

   "Y/N," Reiner walked over to me and spoke softy. He sounded so genuine in this moment.

   "You're ok, you don't need to read if you can't." He wrapped his arms around me and held me there. I looked into his eyes. He looked confused at why I was crying. I reached up to rub my eyes and loosened out of his arms.

   "I-I was just thinking about the last time I read this book. It was the day I lost Clara an-and my home. My old home. Those stupid Titans. That colossal titan forced me out of my home. And then the armored Titan forced us into the Trost district. My father had to rebuild his business because of them. We lost my bratty little sister and our home. What, what else am I going to lose the next time they attack. Eren, Mikasa, Armin. They're important. Like my younger siblings. Losing them would be like losing Clara again. I can't do it." I finally had finished my crying rant and Reiner pulled me in tighter. He began crying this time as I felt wetness dropping onto my hair. I closed my book and looked up to him.

   Why was he crying? Did he lose someone in the attack too? Oh God and this whole time I was afraid of losing all those important to me, I didn't even think of him. I felt embarrassed and selfish. This grown man was in front of me, comforting me, holding me while he was hurting and crying.

   "Reiner, did you lose someone too?" I had calmed down after seeing him. He eventually stopped after a minute and spoke softly again. This time with heavy guilt in his voice.

   "Yes, I lost someone. He was like a brother and protected me. That's why when I saw you I had to take you away from them. I had to protect you. I'm sorry I couldn't save your sister. I'm sorry I couldn't save everyone else. All that death, all those people who perished. It's like it had to happen though. I wouldn't be here now if it didn't. Them dying gave me a reason to be here, as a recruit. Wasn't it the same for you?"

   He let me go and stood up. Reiner walked to the edge of the drop off and sat down with his legs dangling over the side. He looked back to me and patted the seat next to him. I did as he motioned and put my arms behind me then leaned into them.

   "I'm sorry to interrupt your reading." He laid on his back, still allowing his legs to dangle off the side. He cross his arms behind his head to prop himself up slightly. I smiled at him before setting my book to the side and mimicking him.

   "It's ok. Shouldn't we get going to the chow hall soon?"

   "Yeah, but let's enjoy this moment of peace for just a little more. It won't be quiet forever." Reiner spoke in his normal tone then closed his eyes. My stomach fluttered at his words, they were so soft but why couldn't it be like this forever?