A Love Like War (On Hold)

A Christmas Story Part 2

"I'm surprised that you actually agreed to help with this." Reiner said as soon as Annie left them while continuing to clean his gear beside his best friend. "Usually you'd start mumbling to yourself about how lucky he is and stuff to actually be able to talk to her. What's more, I'm surprised that that doesn't bother you at all." he continued as he pointed his chin towards Marco's direction.

Silence was all Bertholdt could muster as a reaction as his olive green eyes beheld the sight. Marco Bodt, the man whom she was always with, was grinning from ear to ear in the middle of the training grounds looking like a complete idiot as he obviously reminisced about the incident six nights ago...

"Are you thinking of killing him?" the blonde asked his friend in a whisper making the tall man quickly turn his attention to his best friend.

"W-what!? N-no!" He answered in a panic, face pale from the mere thought of it.

She'd kill him. She'd literally kill him if ever laid a hand of Marco much less harm the freckled man. She cared for him, obviously. If something was to happen to her so-called prince, he was pretty sure that all hell will break loose by her hand... And as much as the idea was ... well... inviting, he couldn't. They were supposed to be working undercover after all... Killing someone just because of some girl, a girl the he likes, would totally jeopardize everything... he wasn't going to take that risk.... was he?

"Seriously though, I'm actually surprised that it didn't bother you." his friend mumbled.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" he inquired, looking at his friend, obviously curious about what his friend was mumbling about.

"When she you know..." the brawny blonde began uncomfortably, wiping his hand at the back of his neck, as he let the statement hang in the air.

"Oh..." Bertholdt replied.

It wasn't that the incident didn't bother him. In fact, it bothered him a lot to the point that he couldn't sleep the very night it happened... But he was that he wasn't able to... otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to have had some alone time with you before you suddenly disappeared.

---

He couldn't sleep... not even a damn wink. The closest thing that he could ever manage to closing his eyes was blinking and that wasn't much. But how could he? How could he sleep after seeing...watching... that! No matter how many times the memory occurred to him, what happened in the mess hall was just unbelievable. You kissed him. YOU kissed Marco Bodt (a/n): it was just a quick peck on the cheek! SHEESH!), in front of the whole, if not most, 104th Trainee Squad! He wanted to forget all of it but he couldn't. Whatever he does, the image just keeps repeating itself in his mind like some sick twisted nightmare, which to him it literally was, that seemed like it was never going to end. An endless goddamned memory... that's what he got for Christmas... or so he thought.

Grumbling bitterly to himself, he quickly shot out of bed, giving up on sleep, and grabbed his scarf jacket and scarf and tiptoed a beeline past a loudly snoring Connie.

'Man, could this kid snore.' he thought to himself as he carefully opened the door and ventured out into the cold wilderness of the training grounds.

With the cold air bombarding his face with kisses, he started to wonder if this was actually a good idea. He wasn't sure if they were allowed to be out of their designated cabins at this god-forsaken-hour... normally, they weren't but since it's Christmas Eve... it was okay, right? Or at least he hopes so... He couldn't imagine the punishment in stored for him if ever Shadis caught him... which he wouldn't... probably...