Yourself

The color of leaves

While talking with Porco, Leda glanced towards Reiner in hope he would had stopped to say hi but the over enthusiastic Belter literally kidnapped him and dragged him outside the door.

Reiner had such an expression on his face that Leda couldn't help but smirk. It was evident he was trying not to give away his embarrassment but the way his eyes were darting everywhere told a completely different story.

Porco noticed too, but the first thing that really caught his attention was the way Leda kept on subtly smiling every time, casually, Reiner and her locked eyes.

"Hah, I see." He mischievously grinned "so, what's going on Leda? And don't try to say nothing. I can read you like an open book. What are you hiding?"

The girl arched an eyebrow placing both of her hands on her hips.

"Me? Anything at all." She answered in her usual playful manner she always had around Porco.

"C'mon I specifically told you not to say that! I can see you are up to something and it's about that idiot! You told me you were over him!" Galliard gently grabbed her forearm pulling her closer and lowering his voice "how many times do you want him to break your heart again? Leda, please! You already had been punished for openly contesting his execution. The navy isn't the safest option at all, despite what you keep on telling everybody, we are heading to fort Slava, have you an idea of what it means? Are you really gambling with your life to save a walking dead man?"

Leda bit her lips, Porco was somewhat right but she couldn't retrace her moves now nor she couldn't take the risks of getting Porco or Pieck involved.

"He's just a friend you know, just like you and I are"

"Leda, please. You and I? Not so long ago you wouldn't have called us friends. But, I swear, it's not about that. I knew it back then, I know it right now. It's has always been him, he will always be...yadda, yadda. But please, don't lie straight to my face.
I know for a fact you did something to my score results and evaluation."
"Great leadership and aptitude for following orders? Remarkable affinity with the previous holder?" He continued "please Leda, I'm not an idiot. During the last five years, while he was...playing the role of everyone's big brother, it was Pieck and I who took care of you and kept you safe. He came back and after a couple of months you are already risking your life! Can't you see? He's only capable of taking someone else's life to save his."

After what Porco had said to her, Leda really didn't know what to do or say. Porco was right, completely and totally right.

Not only did she falsify an official document, but managed to get herself caught amidst some plan Zeke was making and she didn't even know where it was leading her, only mere weeks after Reiner's return.

At this rate I'll commit high treason by the end of the year.

Once home she opened the door of her old house and headed inside, her plan was to just grab a few items she needed and go back to her dorm but, entering her grandma's room she got lost thinking about that morning. She sat on the bed and lay where Reiner was sleeping just a few hours ago, the scent of his skin still lingering on the sheets, she grabbed the pillow between her arms and closed her eyes.

By the end of the year...who am I kidding, I'll do it right now just to see him smile.

                                                                                                  ***


It didn't take Reiner long to understand that his mother was simply pissed at him for unknown, or better to say known only to her, reasons. Reiner thought he would have to sneak out of the house, but since his mother demonstratively ignored him - Nice of her considering that I am leaving probably for a long time in less than a week - it only simplified everything for Reiner.