Alternative Past Lives

Reiner, Connie, & Porco

*TW talks of PTSD

"The Tennessee Titans...that's what he said?"

Reiner nodded his head. "I'm not a expert or anything but I really don't think dreams about an NFL team triggers panic attacks"

"They do if your a Browns fan" Connie said.

"You knew what you were getting into being a Browns fan"

Connie rolled his eyes. "Anyways, did he go into any further detail?"

Reiner shook his head. "Just said he was dreaming he was in a high pressure situation involved the Tennessee Titans"

"And this started about 8 months ago?"

"Right after we got engaged, I just assumed he was stressed about the wedding, but he's also been calling out people's names; Annie, Marcel..."

Connie swallowed the bite of his sandwich. "Who the h*ll are those people?"

"I don't know, he doesn't work with anyone named Annie or even knows anyone named Annie or Marcel, at first I thought he might be cheating but...he seemed more like...he had seen death or something. I have so many questions but I don't think I'll get any answers."

"I've been to anxious to ask Sasha." Connie said flatly. "I mean one minute she's sleeping with her head on my lap, the next she's in a panic crying and apologizing for leaving me, that she tried to hang on until we got to the island. Scared the living sh*t outta me. She had a psych evaluation but they determined it was stress."

"To be fair she and Bert do work in the ER, especially one that is the only city's trauma center."

"Yeah she's come home before pretty shaken up, one time a major car accident came in...Sasha's patient died...apparently she looked a lot like Kaya."

"I just wish Bertholdt would let me carry this burden with him. It kills me to see him going through whatever it is alone."

"And he won't go to any kind of therapy?"

"Not unless you count wine and cheese night with your wife and Ymir 'therapy'" Reiner said with a laugh.

"Well Sasha always seems to feel better afterwards so whatever works I guess..."

Reiner let out a sigh. Connie and him had met through their partners. With Reiner being a football coach at the local high school and Connie a sports writer for the local news website the two hit it off immediately.

Now the two friends were at lunch while their fiancées were working on a Saturday. Both worried about the recent changes in them. Knowing something was wrong but not knowing how to fix it.

"Reiner, I don't wanna weird you out but that guy over there has been staring at you like ever since we got here"

"Who-" Reiner went to turn his head but Connie stopped him.

"Well don't draw attention to him"

"Why I might know him..."

"Reiner" Connie took another look. "He...kinda looks like he wants to murder you"

***********************************************
"That was the best you could come up with?" Sasha said as she filled out a patient's chart.

"I panicked...he smoozed me"

"He what?"

"You know he poured me wine, made my favorite dinner..." Bertholdt said.

"It's a good thing you aren't like a secret agent or something one glass of wine and you give away the nuclear codes"

"Ok Ms. Thing...what have you told Connie"

Sasha gave him a look. "Look bud I spent seventy-two hours under psych eval and the attributed my 'thing' to stress, so I'm covered."

"For now...what are you gonna do when you start yelling about titans in your sleep."

"Well I haven't yet so..."

"Let me know what you come up with then smarty pants." Bertholdt said lightly thumping Sasha on the top of the head with his pen.

Sasha looked at her watch, "ugh enough of this Titan and death business what are we doing for lunch?"

**************************************************
"Oh f*ck"

"What?" Reiner asked noticing the panicked look on Connie's face.

"Dude whose been eagle eyeing you is heading our way"

"Does he still look mad?"

"You want an honest answer?"

Reiner didn't get a chance to respond before the guy was at their table.

"It's really you..." he said coldly.

"Uh...what now?"

"Reiner Braun..."

"How do you know my name?"

Connie jumped in trying to diffuse the tension, "he's probably read your name in the local football write ups—"

"I don't give a f*ck about your life here" the guy cut Connie off.

"Dude what's your problem? I don't even know you"

"Don't lie to me Reiner! First you took the the Armored Titan—"

A hand clamped on his shoulder. "That's enough Porco"

Looking at the two guys Reiner guessed that they were brothers.

"You'll have to forgive my brother, he must be mistaking you for the guy who stole his girl"

"But don't you—"

"Porco you gotta let it go, Mina is long gone and besides I think that guys name was Thomas not..."

"Reiner Braun"

"Not even close to Thomas Wagner"

"That's not what I'm talking about Marcel—"

"Nice to meet you guys, enjoy your Saturday." He said leading the other guy away as he was still trying to protest.

"Reiner..."

"Yeah"

"I just wanna make sure I'm not going crazy...but that other guy...did he say his name was Marcel?"

"Yeah...he did" Reiner said looking at the door the two brothers walked out off.

***********************************************
"Do you every think about telling him?"

Bertholdt took a sip of his coffee.

"I can't Sasha..."

"Why can't we tell them?"

"Do you think Connie would believe you?"

Sasha thought for a moment.

"Honestly, yeah I think he would. Do you not think Reiner would?"

"It's not that I don't think that he wouldn't believe me..."

The realization dawned on Sasha. "Oh Bertholdt I didn't mean..."

"It's ok...you're right. Given Reiner's past..."

Bertholdt was trying not to cry.

"Sasha...he's already carrying the scars and burdens from one war, I can't have him shouldering the pains of another one."

*credit to the artist