the other side of the sea - reiner braun x reader.

The Announcement.

Porco, Pieck and I walk to the crowded stage together. Things with Porco and I are a little tense but I think it's good we both got some things off our chest. We spot Colt, Zeke, Udo, Zofia, Gabi and Reiner standing together. I purposely avoid eye contact with Reiner. Colt says Falco found someone in the crowd that he knew and wanted to go say hi.

Suddenly, Falco runs up to Reiner out of breath. "Mr. Braun!" he pants. "Sir. Do you mind coming with me?" He asks. Reiner looks at Falco quizzically. "Don't think there's time." Reiner replies. Zeke checks his watch and tells Reiner he will be fine to go. Reiner nods and hesitantly follows Falco away from the crowd. Reiner gives me a small smile as he walks away. I offer a tight lipped smile back.

A few minutes later, Porco & Pieck leave to work as back up security for the event. I wave goodbye as the seats are filling up and the curtains are starting to open on the stage. "That's our cue" I whisper to the kids beside me. We go to find some seats just as Willy Tybur takes the stage.

I sit and listen as Willy Tybur uses his oppurtunity to tell the crowd about the history of the titans, of Eldia and of Marley. I watch the expressions of the children as they gape at the man speaking. They're jaws open and eyes wide. Where is Falco? I figured he would be back before the speech started.

I take a look around and see no sign of him. Where is Reiner? Maybe he joined up with Pieck & Porco. I have a strange feeling flutter in my stomach. I ignore it and turn back to the speaker.

I am growing a bit bored of the spiel. I spent many days in a classroom hearing about the history of the titans while I was a warrior candidate. Listening to my teachers drill me about how Eldians are evil and Marleyans are innocent. I've heard it all before. I turn around and spot Colt standing behind me, he is just as enthralled in the speech as the kids. I nudge him. "Where's your brother?" I ask. He shrugs. "With Reiner I think." "I hope." I say under my breath.

But then Willy Tybur drops a bombshell on the civilians of Liberio. He informs them that Marley and the Tyburs didn't really save the world, but instead the Eldian king of the walls was so disgusted by his own people, he was the one to save us all. I hear gasps and whispers from around me. I pay it no mind. I can't stop looking around for Falco and Reiner. Where are they?

But then I hear Willy say something that catches my ear. He speaks of an uprising in Paradis, a thief of the founders power. An enemy to every man, woman and child outside of his island. His name, is Eren Jaeger.

My eyes shoot open. I look over at the kids. They are still so captivated by the speech. My heart rate quickens. Something isn't right. We have to get out of here. I turn around hoping to find Zeke but he's not there. "Colt. We need to get Falco and get out of here." He doesn't hear me. Tybur is going on about something about a rumbling. I am too worried to listen.

I take one last look for Reiner and Falco and when I don't see them I grab Gabi by the hand. "Gabi we need to go. Guys. We have to get out of here." I plea. Gabi tears her hand out of my grip. "No way! I am not missing this. This is awesome!"

I turn around. "Colt! We have to go. Now!" I yell. The crowd is becoming unruly at the revelation of this rumbling thing. Where are Pieck and Porco?? Where is Reiner?? Willy Tybur is screaming now. I turn around and see the sides of the building behind him cracking.

"Consider this, a declaration of war!" I hear. I jump out of my seat and dive over Gabi, and Udo. I can't reach Zofia. I hear an ear splitting yell and look up to a giant titan with long black hair coming out of the building. I watch in horror as he picks up Willy Tybur and - and eats him.

Hes trying to gain the war hammer titans power, I realize. It hits me all at once, they knew this was going to happen. I'm not sure how yet but they planned for it. And now hundreds of innocent people are dead. Fuck. We have to get out of here. We're way too close to the action.

We're lucky we weren't crushed by a bolder.