ReinerXReader

Chapter Six

It was after dinner, the bell signaled for everyone to go to bed had just rang and tomorrow was Eren's last chance to pass the ODM test. Him alongside another thirteen cadets who all managed to fall flat on the first day. I was so nervous for him and had a worried expression on my face. Plus the commandant almost caught Eren and Jean in yet another fight. Luckily nothing had started so he just gave the two troublemakers a warning but it didn't bode well for Eren.

I ran into Mikasa on her way back to the cabins. I saw her worried look as it matched mine. Well, maybe hers was worse, but I didn't care for Eren the same way she did. We knew it, all of us.

"Do you think he will do it? Like, balance correctly?" I grabbed her hands and held them for a minute before she grunted and pulled away.

"Y/N, I'm really concerned for him. I have faith in his abilities but I promise his mom I'd follow him everywhere. What if he doesn't make it? I have no choice but to make sure he stays safe." She began tearing and the tears fell down her pale cheeks. It hurt seeing her like this. It felt like I was her big sister and I hated seeing either of them in pain. I threw my hands around her and pulled her in close.

"If you need me to stay with you at your cabin, I won't mind. Or you can even stay with me in mine. I hate we weren't put together." Mikasa hugged me back tighter, nuzzling her face in my shoulder.

"No, it's fine. He just has to make it." She pulled away and walked off to her cabin, sniffling. I wish she had accepted my offer. I could've played with her hair until she fell asleep or done something more to comfort her.

I walk back to my cabin and see light from a candle still on. Hmm, it was close to 2200, everyone should be sleeping or trying to by now. I walk in and see a group of males and females playing a game of cards in our center table. I stand in the front doorway, confused. Eren was here? Along with Armin, Bertolt, Annie, and Reiner. I didn't realize we even had enough seats for this many.

"Um, hello everyone?" I half heartedly wave. I definitely was not expecting people to be here, let alone a little bit of gambling going on.

"You know Eren, Mikasa is stressed about the probability of you failing tomorrow. Shouldn't you be working on passing?" I sit on my bed which was still close enough to everyone in the middle and cross my arms. Eren rolls his eyes and grumbles.

"Of course I'll pass, I'm studying right now actually. We were all going over tips and just got back from a short walk. Nothing to worry about, I just have to do better." His lips turn in a toothy grin and his eyes sport smugness. It was my turn to roll my eyes.

I sigh and uncross my arms and begin to cross my legs. That get uncomfortable quick so I uncross them and lean my back on my bed. After a few minutes of realizing that nobody was leaving soon and that they would continue playing games until the late night I sat back up.

"This time I'm going to bet my dinner tomorrow! Someone else do the same. I get extra hungry at night." Sasha squeaks, drooling over the idea of winning a second dinner. Christa raises her hands but yelps when Ymir slaps her on her back, making her pull her bet back. Bertolt instead bets his dinner with Reiner staring holes into his head. Annie snickers and bets her dinner as well. Eren was debating, you could see it in his face. I wanted to tell him no, but he ended up putting in his bet too. Sasha was panting by now with the promise of three extra dinners. Like she could even finish that many? Actually, she could.

Everyone turns over their cards and Sasha's face goes pale. Annie won the hand. Annie smirked at her and licks her lips. I imagine she's savoring all the heartache Sasha will have watching her dinner be eaten by someone else. Sasha wines and asks to play another round, this time betting the extra bread that comes with dinner, similar to our deal. She'll do anything for more food.

I shake my hand at Sasha's idiocies. I couldn't do that. I'd like to play it safe, but ironically am joining the scouts alongside Eren and Mikasa. I look over to Reiner as he whispers something in Bertolt's ears. Bertolt has that same shy expression but subtly nods. I figured it was the sign that they would leave to go to bed but to my surprise Reiner walked next to me and sat on my bed.

"Do you not like cards? Or is it just your bedtime?" He smirks at me before laying in my bed, his legs hanging off the side. As I respond I could feel the eyes off the table on us. I hated that feeling.

"Yes, in fact, it is my bedtime. It should be Eren's bedtime as well. Especially considering Mikasa is worried sick about you now!" I shouted my last sentence and Eren doubtlessly heard it. Him and I made eye contact. His eyes narrowed into mine.

"Y/N, I promise Eren will pass. Put your trust into him. Mikasa should do the same honestly." Reiner sat back up, his hands in his lap. I growled at him and he just slapped my back playfully. Reiner stands up and claps his hands.

"Alright everyone! I'd say it's time to go back to the cabins. Y/N says it's her bedtime and I'd hate to deal with a Y/N who's lack of sleep drives her mad." Reiner grabs Bertolt and Annie and they make their way back to their cabins. He stops at the front doorway and looks back with the same bored look from when he introduced himself but continues walking. Sasha cries that she won bread so that means she gets everyone's bread from now on and Eren just shrugs it off, cursing to himself as he leaves.

"Thanks for kicking them out. I tried but Christa loved them here." Ymir nudges me before making sure Christa was peacefully in her bed. Sasha finished cleaning up, mumbling to herself then blew out the candle lighting up the room.

"Goodnight everyone! Don't forget about the bread Y/N!" Sasha giggle as she climbs up to her bed and soon I hear her snoring. I smile as I nuzzle into my pillow. Reiner was sitting on my bed earlier, the thought comes up, and somehow that makes my cheeks glow red. I feel similar fluttering from earlier in my stomach. And the way he listened to me even though I was only half joking, he got everyone out so I could sleep. It felt different. A feeling I haven't had for a while.

This was it, Eren's final try. We were all standing in ranks but I was standing next to Mikasa. Everyone's eyes were so focused on Eren's ability to balance so I held Mikasa's hand. I squeezed it to ensure that she would be comforted. This was my little sister and my little brother. Well, sort of. Regardless I felt I had to take care of them. Eren has a look of determination in his face as he shouts that he's ready. The commandant orders for him to be lifted into the air. Eren is lifted and stays balance, for a few seconds he stays perfectly still. That is until one wrong move and he flips onto his front again.

"No, NO. This will not be it. I will defeat those Titans. I WILL PASS." He screams and told to switch his belts with the cadet behind him. He does so and is once again lifted into the air. He once again balances perfectly but this time it looks much easier for him. His face is in shock as the commandant explains that Eren's belt was broken and that's why he failed so many times. Eren screams in celebration and throws his fist in the air. I unlatch from Mikasa's hand and look over to her in tears. We get to stay together. I look over to Armin and he looks back at me with a smile on his face and tears as well. The rest of our training will continue and we will leave these walls. I look over to Reiner to see him already staring back at me. He smiles but it seems to be forced. Hmm.