A Beautiful Façade┃Reiner X Reader

Chapter 17: A Line in the Sand

It's a cold morning unlike any other. As you lay awake, yawning and stirred, your eye remains on the tired expression of Reiner. Sound asleep, unburdened and calm.

The light catches his golden blonde hair, making it look bright and alive. Along his jaw, the finest details of stubble, skin and all the little freckles show in gorgeous detail. The tiniest dimple is showing beside his mouth as his lips crease in unconscious relaxation.

A certain emotion comes over you when you see him here, something you've never felt before. There's a new greed inside you to know everything about him, to pick apart all the perfect details on his face, his eyes, nose, mouth, and to never look away. You've never liked eye-contact, it's embarrassing and unnatural; but here and now, you can't help but stare. It's unsettling in a way.

There's no sexual reason behind it. No, at this moment, your mind doesn't drift to perversion once. You want to study him just because you can- or really because you see how interesting he is. Reiner's sculpted beautifully, why didn't you notice any of this before?

You wonder in this moment how warm he must be. He's always warm, like a big, fluffy sweater that harbors all the heat in the room. Would he mind a hug? Just a quick, simple hug? Cuddling together in the cold morning, it sounds so nice, he must know that too. Is that too romantic of a gesture though? Couples do that and you're not a couple. No, it's to start the day and only because you're cold. He won't mind. Hopefully...

You move down the bed just slightly to tuck your head under his chin. With trembling arms, you press your hands to his lower back and pull him against you. Reiner lets out a quiet, nearly inaudible grumble as you do it. Immediately, the comforting feeling washes over you. Fucking hell, he's so warm. Why is he so warm? You're in a freezing cold room and he's not even wearing a shirt- the math is not adding up. You press your head against his chest and finally feel your racing heart start to slow down.

"Y/N..." Reiner mumbles, his voice gentle, yet deep like crackling firewood. His morning voice is so relaxing. "Mmm, that's sweet."

You smile against his chest. "Yeah?"

"Yeah... sweet," he presses his arms around you for a second before taking them away. "Ah, you're so cold."

"Yeah, it's freezing in here," you mutter.

"No, no, no it's not," his voice lazily slurs through the tiredness. "Mmm... come over here."

Reiner squeezes his arms tightly around your back as if trying to push you into his skin. He holds you tightly like that, while periodically rubbing his arms up and down your back. The heat travels in different sections, and you adore it unlike anything else.

You whisper calmly, "thanks."

"Hmm... I could doze off like this."

"Don't go to sleep," you say back. "It's morning."

"Huh? Really?" he grunts.

"Yeah."

"Damn, I need to- this is so nice..." You feel his heart pound against your head slightly faster. "Let's just chat, keep each other up."

"Alright," you think for a second, trying to keep your mind focused on anything but his heated torso. "Erm... your first boyfriend. Tell me about him."

"Bertholdt?"

"Yeah, him."

"He was... quiet," Reiner says in slow hesitance. "Fearful. Kind. Introverted. And really just, in his own head. He never wanted to make big moves with the colossal or think for himself... no... he always wanted me to take over for him."