A Beautiful Façade┃Reiner X Reader

Chapter 6: Wellbeing

It's another simple work day, starting off at a tediously early hour. Every warrior teeters around waiting for Magath, Kaslow and other officials to address the group, leaving you the perfect opportunity to speak to Reiner.

"Hey," you whisper, telling him the news with your back to him, so it doesn't even look like you're talking. "I've been doing what you asked."

"Okay," he states in a formal tone. "How is it?"

"Sore. Getting better."

"Mhm."

"Oh, look at this," Pieck says suddenly.

Your gaze turns to her, catching the sight of Pieck and Porco approaching the both of you. Her grin is needlessly smug, leaving you a pang of worry.

"Aren't you two getting cozy?" she asks with a chuckle. Looking at Porco, she adds, "I told you something was up."

You can physically feel the gears turning in Reiner's mind, from the slightest tick in his jaw to the breath that he holds onto. Without even facing him, you can tell just how caught-off-guard he is.

Stepping away from Reiner, you turn to Pieck and announce angrily, "what the hell are you talking about?"

"We can see you two talking," she grins. "I knew you'd make a cute couple."

Reiner raises his brows, facing her now as well. A disgusted expression crosses his face, "seriously?"

"Me and him?!" You press your hands to your neck and fake-choke yourself, getting out a horrified gag. When the hands pull away you tell her brashly, "you're repulsive!"

"Yeah, Pieck, lay off," adds Porco calmly. "That's crazy."

She shrugs. "I guess you're right." As the both of them turn to walk away, she glances at you and halts her movements. "Y/N, I need a word."

You gulp before hurriedly walking to her aid. Standing about a metre away from Reiner, Pieck looks at you smugly, leaning in to speak.

"I saw him leaving your apartment," she whispers.

Eyes turning wide, your breath hitches in the attempt of an answer. This suggestion is horrifying.

"That was for work," you hiss back.

"Right. Work."

And with that final line, Pieck turns sharply and heads back to Porco. While you watch her walk off cheerfully, a million thoughts buzz away at once. How long it'll be until she shares this fact with everyone else. And how long until they start to believe it.

That idea has your heart beating fast. Nothing hinders a reputation like a sex scandal with what is essentially your superior. Oh wait- there is something worse than that- a sex scandal with your superior who also happens to be a pathetic, whiny dipshit. If Pieck blabs, no one will see you the same again. You'll be known as Reiner's conquest with one big label tattooed on your face.

You turn around, gaze meeting Reiner yet again. With each step forward, you watch his work-mask progressively slip, until he's glaring at you with contempt clear as day.

Stopping beside him, Reiner says one last line before walking off. One final, chilling statement.

"Keep your door unlocked."

***

It's 9:55pm that very same day, as you teeter around your kitchen in nervous anticipation. As soon as you came home, you found yourself unable to turn away from the door, every second was spent with eyes on the entrance awaiting something that you could never miss. A visit from Reiner.