Beautiful Traitor | Reiner x OC 18+

2 [updated]

Present: Age 22

The warmth of the sun seeps through the curtains, burning my face; which causes me to stir awake. I groan, turning over onto my stomach to cover my face from the bright light. I stay like this for a couple of seconds before finally deciding to push off the covers and start my day.

I sit up on the edge of my bed staring at Sasha's empty one across the room. This has become a part of my daily routine. It's been almost a month since she died. Since she was murdered in cold blood, right in front of me. There was nothing I could do to stop it and it feels like the pain will never end.

I know I should be used to my comrades constantly dying all around me. The scouts are not known for having a high retirement rate after all. But no matter how prepared you may think you are to watch someone die. All of that goes out of the window when it comes to watching one of your best friends die.

Sliding my feet into my slippers, my feet pad across the wooden floors as I make my way to the bathroom to begin the start of another long day.

~

Before I can even place my tray of food down on the table Connie immediately opens his mouth to speak.

His words are mushed together as he chews on his food while talking. "Wow, you look like shit."

I scoff at him as I take the seat across from him next to Armin. "Well Good Morning to you too."

Next to him Mikasa gives him a side eye. "Don't chew and talk, that's disgusting. Even you should know that." She says plainly, with emphasis on the 'you'.

Jean slaps the back of Connie's bald head, staying there as it makes contact with his skin. "I doubt there's anything going on in that head of his. Isn't that right Connie Boy?"

With exaggerated force, Connie shoves Jean's hand away. "Watch it, horse face!"

They engage in a playful back and forth, bickering as they usually do. I shake my head, letting a small laugh slip between my lips before turning my attention to Armin.

"They still act like they are fifteen." Armin says with a small smile, as he turns to give me his attention.

"I guess some of us just never grow up."

There's a moment of silence before Armin clears his throat.

"So, how are you doing? Did you sleep okay?"

I sigh, dropping my shoulders before shaking my head lightly. "Not really."

Armin's lips curve into a small frown. "Thinking of Sasha?"

I shrug before letting out a sigh. "Yeah. It's just...It's just so weird with her empty bed. It's a constant reminder that she's never coming back."

"I can't begin to imagine how hard that must be for you. Waking up and going to sleep with that constant reminder would take a toll on anyone. I know it's hard, but I'm always here. We all are. All of us, we need to stick together and keep her memory alive and remember what we are fighting for."

"I know, I just miss her." I pause, letting out a huff of air. "She was one of my best friends, you know. Besides..." My voice cuts off as the image of Reiner invades my mind.

Armin places a hand on my shoulder, bringing me back into the conversation. "I heard we are getting a new mission today. Maybe this will help get your mind off of things. It would be good for all of us to have a new distraction to focus on."

"Good Morning everyone!"

My body twists in my chair as I turn in my chair to see Commander Hange in the center of the room with Captain Levi standing next to her with his arms crossed over his chest. He looks unamused; as per usual.

"As you all obviously know," Hange continues. "We are at war with basically...well the entire world. We are drastically behind in technology. Compared to us, everyone else is years beyond our knowledge. And in order to win we need access to that technology. Which means unfortunately we have to do some things we may not be completely comfortable with."

The food hall remains silent as everyone waits for Hange to get to the main point.

She lets out a deep sigh before continuing. "We will be working with some of the Eldians from the Marleyan Empire."

Hange barely finishes her sentence before the entire room erupts into chaos with everyone talking over one another.

"What!? No Way!" Connie yells, moving to stand up from the table before Mikasa pulls him back down.

Hange claps her hands trying to regain control of the room, but her attempt falls flat.

"Everyone shut up and let Hange finish!" Levi commands. The room falls silent instantly.

Hange glances around the room making sure she has everyone's attention again before continuing. "I know what you all are thinking, but this is truly the best option we have to guarantee our win. Extra security measures will be put in place to ensure everyone's safety. We just ask that you remain vigilant and try your best to put your differences aside for the sake of humanity. That is all for now."

The room slips back into chaos as soon as Hange finishes talking. I twist back around in my chair, facing the table again. The noises of everyone talking swirls around my head, but I can't focus on anything they are saying.

A knot forms in my throat at the thought of Reiner's possible return to Paradis. It's impossible, there's no way. I mean Hange would have told me if he was coming right. Besides there's no way they would never allow him to show his face here again after everything he's done. I highly doubt Captain Levi would let that happen. After all of the lies, the destruction, the people we lost—Sasha. I keep trying to repeat it in my head, like a mantra. Trying to convince myself he would never come back. But no matter what I do, there's a small whisper of doubt that lingers within the back of my mind.

I clench my fist trying to ground myself as I try to push Reiner out of my mind. I haven't thought about him recently. I've been so preoccupied, all of my thoughts have been about Sasha. But right now I need to focus. What will happen once the Marlyeans arrive? There's a lot of protocols and things that need to be established before they get here. We need to know who speaks first, how to approach them, what questions to ask. I'll have to keep my emotions in check, especially if—no, when; Reiner's name comes up.

I glance over at Armin, his brows furrowed as he's already deep in thought. He's always five steps ahead of us. Ready to take control as the brains of the group. I look at Connie, who is surprisingly quiet. I can tell he's on edge just as much as everyone else even though he's trying his best to hide it.