Full ~Kaneki x Reader AU~

Chapter 17: Reading to You

Reeve knew there was so much wrong with the world - that it was dark, and it was twisted. She saw it, even when the lights were on. Even when the sun was shinning. Even when she was surrounded by smiles. She saw past it all.

And as she gazed at him, staring into those emerald eyes, she saw through his façade. She could see through him like a child looking into clear ocean water. All the colors and secrets he tried so dearly to hold close were suddenly relieved from his grip, and he knew that.

As Reeve looked at him, Tanner could feel all his walls disassemble, and just as they fell, he smiled.

"You're going to report me, aren't you?" he asked, not looking at the girl in front of him.

Reeve stood motionless, heart beating furiously. "No. I wasn't planning to."

"Why not? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"

Tanner pushed up from the ground, hissing with pain as Reeve watched. "Is that what you think?"

"Maybe, though it might be the law that makes me believe that."

Tanner fixed his eyes on hers, his crimson gaze hitching her breath. Even after seeing them, Reeve didn't think she could adjust to them. Not with how feral he was. Wild and dangerous, like how her mother had said most were. But then again, that was just Tanner. Even before tonight, Reeve could see just how untamable he was. Like a rogue spirit, he was free and unkempt. Not tied down or controlled by anyone.

But at that moment, he was even more wild and unpredictable.

"Shouldn't you run along and tell the whole town?" Tanner smirked, pushing past the girl.

"I thought I already told you that wasn't my intention."

"Oh, so there is an intention then?"

"Well, yes...no...yes. Oh! You're putting words into my mouth, Tanner!"

"How am I? Either you have intentions, or you don't. Simple as that."

Reeve's cheeks burned with frustration as she hurried after him. "Now, you listen to me, Tanner Biggs! You can't just say something like that and run away! We're not done here!"

"We are if you're about to turn me in 'cause truth be told babes, I'm not looking to get hunted down and turned to some prick's weapon."

"Weapon?" Reeve repeated quizzically, still following him.

They were walking deeper into the woods, the brush scrapping against Reeve's calves and pulling onto her skirt. She struggled to keep up with him, a single step of his easily equaling two of her own, though he paid her no mind.

Tanner ignored her struggles, continuing. "Yeah. What do you think happens to ghouls once they're killed by the investigators? Our kagunes are harvested and turned into weapons that the investigators use to kill more ghouls. I don't know about you, but that feels like I'm helping to murder my own kind, and that's not something I'm about."

He glanced back just as Reeve tripped over a twig, almost tumbling down, though he stopped, catching her. Without thought, he reached out, catching her by the arm, steadying her. In that moment, he could feel her. He could feel the warmth of her skin through her shirt - could feel how her muscles flexed and relaxed. He could feel how her heart raced, her pulse throbbing quickly.

And he could see it. The fear filled her eyes. Fear that wrote itself plainly across her features. And this fear he saw was not a fear he thought he would see. This fear was not directed at him, but instead at the fact she had almost fallen down. The startle of it all, really.

Amused, he smirked. "Well, aren't you just as graceful as a pretty little dancer?"

Still enveloped in her shock, Reeve looked at him, brows furrowed and cheeks scarlet. "Tanner!"

"What? I helped you, didn't I?"

"Yes, but -"

"But what? What else could you possibly want from me?"

He looked at her, that fire in her eyes swirling and flickering. Feisty. Just as usual. Just Reeve being as she always was. But as much as he wanted to stay to torment her a bit more, he knew he had to go.

"Listen, you're cute and all, but I need to go. Not really lookin' to get hunted down."

"Dammit, Tanner, wait a minute!" She snapped, yanking her hand from him. Her shoulders rose and fell heavily. "I'm not turning you in, and even if I was, you're injured. Just where do you plan on going?"

He opened his mouth to reply but paused, his ribs aching with each breath he drew, and though he fought his best not to show it, Reeve could see the discomfort. And he knew she could see.

"Let me help you," she said, eyes big and soft. "If you want to run after that, then fine. But let me help you." She stood, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Let me help you."

Crimson pools stared back at her before fading to those same earthy irises she knew. Warm and deep, full of so many things that she couldn't decode, but emotions, nonetheless. Emotions he couldn't hide. No matter how hard he tried.

She could see through him.

"Listen, I know it's cringe," I say, finally looking up from my laptop, meeting Kaneki's gaze. He is perched on the sofa, eyes fixated on me. "But this is just a first snippet. It'll be edited and changed later. Yay? Nay?"

He smiles, "I like it. I didn't know you wrote romance novels."

Heat sprawls across my cheeks, dusting across my ears. "I-I wasn't going for that. I was going more for a platonic vibe. Does it come off as romantic?"

"Sort of," he shrugs. "Do you not usually write romance?"

I don't know why, but my fingers run smoothly along the keys. "Not usually...was it weird?"

"I don't think so."

I wish I could say that brings me some sense of comfort but in this case, I can't help but feel so small. I mean, it's one thing if thousands of people read my books, but to read one I'm working on now to someone? It's embarrassing and cringe.

"I think you should keep it going and see where it goes," he encourages. "You never know. You might like writing something different and, to be honest, I'd love to read it. It sounds like it'd be an interesting story."

Once again, heat sweeps across my face, my ears and cheeks burning, my heart racing. This man...what does he do to me? Why does he do this to me? It's so annoying and confusing and frustrating. Just...

But as I look at him, his eyes so soft and warm and skin like ivory, I can't help but smile. Because in the end, no matter how annoying and irritating this all is, I secretly don't mind.

**Ello lovelies! So, for those who might be confused, the first chunk of this chapter was basically Y/N reading to Kaneki some of her latest book (the one she's making). And honestly, I cringed while typing it lol. Actually, I cringe a lot when I type. A part of the process, I guess lol. Cringing. We all do it. But yeah, just a little something kinda fun. I know I had fun typing it, minus the cringing lol. Well, I think that'll do for today. As always, thank you oh, so, so much for any and all support! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross

P.S. "Glassy Sky" by Amanda Lee - I really went back forth on whether or not to use this song, but here we are.