Dances and Ruin// Reiner Braun x OC

Chapter Twelve

Reiner's eyes flutter open slowly. The first thing he notices at the first instance of vision of flooding in is the fact that he's not in his own room. Then, he can feel the whisper of a touch tracing circles on his shoulder blades over his shirt. It's at that moment that he remembers that he spent the night in Peri's room. He can't quite recall the moment that he began to slip into his slumber, but he can perfectly remember the hours and minutes that lead up to then. He remembers Peri's subtle way of telling him how she felt about him. He remembers the gentle tugging of her hand, asking him to stay and his attempt to come clean about his own secrets and feelings. He ultimately failed, but he's since come to terms with the fact that it's probably best he holds onto that for a little while longer. Even so, he can't seem to shake the feeling that he can't keep it under wraps for too much longer.

The steady circles come to a sudden halt as Peri speaks. "Hey, what are you thinking about?" she asks.

"Nothing too important," he lies. I'm only getting myself nowhere by putting it off.

"So, you don't mind sharing then?"

Reiner chuckles, "You'd give anything to read minds, wouldn't you?"

"Wouldn't be a bad thing to be able to do," she says casually. "So, are you gonna tell me or what?"

He clears his throat, "Just wondering if Bertolt or anyone of greater importance has noticed that I wasn't in my room last night. Consequently, thinking about how I can finish up at the stables quicker."

Peri giggles, "I'm sure you'll figure it out. Hell, I might even help."

" Might ?" Reiner asks, rolling over. Peri lies on her side, her hair a wild pool of red beneath her head and her stormy eyes shining bright. If he had to guess he'd say that she's been up a little while longer than he has been. "If I'm there, you will be too. I just hope you know that as well as I do."

"Only if I get caught with you in here," she smirks. "Either way, I think we're both in the clear though. I'm pretty sure they let everyone sleep in today. The light's shining through the window at a different angle than it usually is when we get our wakeup call."

"Off day?"

"Appears so," she says sitting up and stretching. "I think I'm gonna have to kick out anyway though. I want to get dressed, and staying in all day is no way to spend a good day off."

Reiner sits up alongside her and swings his feet over the edge of her bed. It's just then that he realizes how crowded he's felt. She's right, but it was nice to not feel alone when I fell asleep last night. It's nice to not feel alone. It's nice to feel like I have someone, to feel like I have you. How much longer will I get to have this? This moment is fleeting, will the rest of them be the same? Will they disappear without a trace before I get the chance to pack these away for safekeeping? He frowns and slides out, his feet pressing flat against the rugged wooden floors. His frown quickly transforms to a mild-mannered smile as he turns to face Peri again. "You know, if you wanted to have the bed to yourself again, all you had to do was tell me."

"Okay, you caught me. I might sleep another couple minutes or so when you leave, but I really do want to do something fun today," she says, pulling her knees to her chest. "Wanna meet in the mess hall in an hour?"

"Sounds like a plan," Reiner nods, heading for the door. "Any longer than that, you'll have to walk to the puddle on your own."

"How'd you know I had that in mind?"

He shrugs, cracking the door. "If there's one mind I'm fortunate enough to read, it'd have to be yours."

"You're such a mess," she laughs. "Now, go, you're cutting into my nap time."