Reiner leaned back in his desk chair, making a mental note that he needed to work on his posture.
He enjoyed the silence in his classroom that had settled once his 4th period class had ended. His stomach was craving food, but his bad knee was so sore due to the cold rainy weather. Groaning, Reiner leaned forward briefly detaching his prosthetic leg to massage his left knee.
Reiner had joined the Marines, much to Bertholdt's dismay, at 19. He had been lured in by a recruiter promising free higher education and the honor of serving his country.
That turned out to be a load of bullsh*t. After two tours in Iraq all he still was left with some serious student debt, PTDS, and having his left leg gone at the knee.
It didn't help thaw the relationship with his dad either. Despite walking out on him and his mom when he was young, he thought joining the marines would somehow magically fix there relationship. Yet during the months spent in the hospital, then a rehab facility, his dad didn't even call.
It didn't help he was gay either. I guess his dad would never be able to look past his homophobia.
He started at his coffee mug, focusing on word Titans. His mind thinking of the many nights of Bertholdt talking in his sleep.
"Tennessee Titans..." he mumbled rubbing his stump. He knew that was bullsh*t. Bertholdt wasn't very good at lying, and he had zero interest in the NFL. Reiner was also trying to figure out how Sasha played into this.
"Yo Reiner..." Gunther Shultz popped his head into Reiner's classroom. "Frieda made extra chili last night to I thought I'd bring you some for lunch".
Reiner couldn't resist.
"Thought we could also start planning for the baseball season too." Gunther said handing a warmed up container of chili on his desk.
"It's only October, we aren't even through football yet."
Gunther just shrugged. "It beats talking about planning the next unit for Q2."
"Fair point...say Gunther can I ask you a question?"
"Fire away"
"You know my fiancé pretty well right?"
He nodded, taking a bite of his lunch.
"Can you make an sense of him talking about titans in his sleep, and based on the distressed looked on his face I don't think it had anything to do with the school mascot".
Reiner didn't notice Gunther's body stiffen at the mention of titans.
"Have you asked him about it?"
Reiner let out a hearty laugh, "he told me he was talking about the Tennessee Titans."
"Doesn't he only watch soccer, and some basketball?"
"That's why I think it's bullsh*t...I just have this feeling like he's hiding something very important from me"
"I don't mean to be accusatory but...do you think he might be...cheating?" Gunther asked.
"I thought that at first, especially when he would also mention some guy named Marco, trying to apologize or something. But I know him too well and he wouldn't do that to me, especially since he has been a victim of infidelity himself."
"Well I'm at a loss then. Maybe he is just as nervous for the post season as we are" Gunther said trying to move the conversation away titans.
"He's also mentioned things like "Marley, Wall Maria...the scouts."
This time Reiner noticed the change in Gunther's demeanor.
"Wall Maria?"
"Yeah you know anything about it?"
Gunther hesitated for a second. A part of him wanted to tell Reiner everything, but it was clear Reiner or that Reiner was still alive there. He heard his wife's voice in his head.
"We can't tell anyone if it hasn't happened to them. I can't even tell my sister."
"Um no, doesn't ring a bell" he said, but he didn't sound as convincing as he had hoped.
Before Reiner could respond, Principal Pixis was at his door.
"Coach Braun, Coach Shultz glad to find you both here. There is someone I want you to meet."
Pixis stepped aside to allow a young woman with blonde hair and sharp facial features to step inside the classroom.
The two made there way to Reiner's desk.
"This is our new head volleyball coach, and the new teacher taking over for Mr. Calvi...Ms. Leonhart."
"Nice to meet you Mrs Leonhart." Reiner said holding out his hand.
"Please, call me Annie." She said with a small smile. Looking into her blue eyes as they shook hands, there was something...familiar about her. Something unsettlingly familiar.
"Coach Schultz...aren't you going to introduce yourself."
Reiner looked to Gunther whose face went flat, almost hostile.
"What's the deal is she like an ex or something?" Reiner thought.
Finally Gunther shook Annie's hand. "Welcome to Trost" he said flatly. "I'm sure you'll feel right at home working with our female titans"
Reiner gave him a weird look. "You mean the lady titans."
"Sorry, got my words mixed up"
Breaking the tension, Pixis cleared his throat. "Well I'll continue showing Ms. Leonhart around. Have a good day."
"Nice to meet you both" Annie said brightly.
"Likewise, look forward to having you here." Reiner said.
As soon as they were out of earshot Reiner turned to Gunther.
"What the f*ck was that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is she like an ex girlfriend or killed your goldfish?"
Gunther gave Reiner a look that he had never seen before.
"Don't worry about." He said flatly.
"But-"
"Just...let it go...all of it"
Reiner let out a sigh of defeat, leaning over to reattach his leg.
"So..." Gunther said, his demeanor back to normal. "Baseball season..."
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