(not) your eyes | r. braun

𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲-𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱

4

Sometimes, you felt the ache in your body from the day before. This was considering that you weren't that much of a fan of running with a gun in your hand.

Warrior training made you tough, and gave you muscles that you felt a thirteen-year-old shouldn't have.

These kids sat down for dinner. Together, they ate a filling meal around a full, warm table. They all smiled that they made it through yet another day of training together.

You sat next to Reiner.

Reiner was the shy type. He was more emotional than the rest of the kids, but had a determination that enticed you to help him. You had never thought of Reiner over yourself, you knew that for sure.

"You need to use your hip if you want to hit harder," you said to him one night.

"How do I use my hip?"

"Just move your hip...?"

"But, I don't understand!"

When he was tired, he would whine, a trait that you had to deal with over many long nights with him. It wasn't impossible because he was still a sweetheart, but it sure was at least a bit annoying.

That night they sat on the steps together, staring into the millions of stars above themselves.

"You really need to learn how to use that hip, Rei," you say in a whisper.

"I will, I will," he whines again, this time quietly.

In the distance there was a quiet piano being played, likely someone practicing in the wee hours of the night. Those sounds made you oh-so sleepy. So sleepy, that all you remember was waking up in your bed the next morning.

However, he remembers how your head laid on his shoulder, how both your arms were wrapped around his one, and how he contemplated picking you up and carrying you home until raindrops started to fall and Theo Magath came outside in his day clothes offering to do it for him.

He still wishes that he could.

❧

That night, they took the train back to Liberio. Here's a spoiler, you had never actually lived in Liberio until you were older. Not like the other's did anyway.

The train ride felt slow with all of the yelling and partying around you. Your mind was telling you to go see what Reiner was doing, but your body refused to move. Maybe it was because Magath was around, but you had not wanted to even shift from your chair.

Your thoughts still ran through your mind over and over about him. You wanted to say you were sorry, for many things. You wanted to feel the warmth of his body again. You wanted to look into his eyes and understand everything that was going on in his mind. If only he had come to sit with you.

Your mind was your worst enemy at the moment. It allowed you to dream that you fell asleep on his shoulder, only to wake up with your head still leaning on the cool glass.

❧

You don't see him again until they get off the train. It's casual, but you pass on dinner with his family. You've met them before, and something was just off about his mother, Gabi's mother too.

Instead, you spend the evening looking for Magath. Inside the Eldian training center, he sits in a room at a table by himself. He eats a cuisine that was made only for Marleyans. There's a single candle lit in the middle.

"Why are you here?" he asks, mouth clear of food.

"Why wouldn't I be here? You were expecting me, no?"