Predictably, Eren responds with anger. Reiner suppresses another sigh, his frustration growing. It's impossible to get through to Eren when he's like this. If Reiner could only convince Eren to calm down, maybe they could handle this sensibly. But Eren is behaving like he does with Jean, all bullheaded aggression. Usually, Eren doesn't butt heads with him, but here they are.
And then, something changes. Something in the air between them, a sudden shift that Reiner doesn't understand.
He blinks, a chill running up his spine as Eren's anger vanishes, dead calm replacing it. What…? Reiner's brows twitch, confusion pulling them together, something like wariness tightening his shoulders. But why is he wary? So what if Eren is calm? They're friends. Reiner has nothing to fear from Eren.
Just who do you think I am?
Soft words. Too soft. A dagger sheathed in silk. Reiner parts his lips, trying to say, "What are you talking about?" Or maybe, "You're my friend." But the words freeze on his tongue, choked by uncertainty surging through his veins.
Comrade. Friend. Reflection. Mission.
Mission?
Soft kisses in the dark, too-warm skin pressed together, their limbs tangled, voices quiet. "We're stealing time," Reiner said. Why did he say that? Why did they have to steal? "Did this ever happen back home? Did we ever happen?" Questions Reiner didn't ask, questions he was ashamed to voice. But why? Why would he hesitate? Why would he feel shame? Why couldn't they be together?
Where are we, Reiner?
They're … training, right? No, that isn't it. They're on a beach. They're playing a game. They're in a new world, aren't they? A world completely unlike their island—
Island?
Do you remember?
Reiner's eyes are wide, his breathing short and quick. Sweat that has nothing to do with the sun breaks out on his brow, cold against his skin. Does he remember? What is he supposed to remember? What—
Eren charges. Reiner reacts, the training his body knows kicking in despite the chaos in his mind. He braces and shifts his stick's position for a perfectly practiced counter, knocking it against Eren's at just the right time, deflecting the force behind Eren's blow. But then they're close, Eren's changed face so near Reiner's, bodies bare from the waist up, and Reiner knows what Eren feels like pressed against him, knows what it feels like when they fight and fuck, knows how much he wants it, knows how much he—
The world shifts beneath him, or maybe it's just a wave. Instinctively, Reiner counterattacks, bringing the other end of the stick down toward Eren's shoulder. Aiming to knock Eren to the side, throwing him into the water again.
But whether it works or not, Reiner loses his balance. He slips, sucks in a breath, then tumbles down, cold water slamming into him.
cw major mental instability, panic, gaslighting (?), it's just a mess
And then, something changes. Something in the air between them, a sudden shift that Reiner doesn't understand.
He blinks, a chill running up his spine as Eren's anger vanishes, dead calm replacing it. What…? Reiner's brows twitch, confusion pulling them together, something like wariness tightening his shoulders. But why is he wary? So what if Eren is calm? They're friends. Reiner has nothing to fear from Eren.
Just who do you think I am?
Soft words. Too soft. A dagger sheathed in silk. Reiner parts his lips, trying to say, "What are you talking about?" Or maybe, "You're my friend." But the words freeze on his tongue, choked by uncertainty surging through his veins.
Comrade. Friend. Reflection. Mission.
Mission?
Soft kisses in the dark, too-warm skin pressed together, their limbs tangled, voices quiet. "We're stealing time," Reiner said. Why did he say that? Why did they have to steal? "Did this ever happen back home? Did we ever happen?" Questions Reiner didn't ask, questions he was ashamed to voice. But why? Why would he hesitate? Why would he feel shame? Why couldn't they be together?
Where are we, Reiner?
They're … training, right? No, that isn't it. They're on a beach. They're playing a game. They're in a new world, aren't they? A world completely unlike their island—
Island?
Do you remember?
Reiner's eyes are wide, his breathing short and quick. Sweat that has nothing to do with the sun breaks out on his brow, cold against his skin. Does he remember? What is he supposed to remember? What—
Eren charges. Reiner reacts, the training his body knows kicking in despite the chaos in his mind. He braces and shifts his stick's position for a perfectly practiced counter, knocking it against Eren's at just the right time, deflecting the force behind Eren's blow. But then they're close, Eren's changed face so near Reiner's, bodies bare from the waist up, and Reiner knows what Eren feels like pressed against him, knows what it feels like when they fight and fuck, knows how much he wants it, knows how much he—
The world shifts beneath him, or maybe it's just a wave. Instinctively, Reiner counterattacks, bringing the other end of the stick down toward Eren's shoulder. Aiming to knock Eren to the side, throwing him into the water again.
But whether it works or not, Reiner loses his balance. He slips, sucks in a breath, then tumbles down, cold water slamming into him.