If Eren were to kiss him, Reiner would welcome it, cold and all. He would hate the cold, wishing to banish it somewhere deep and dark, far from the lightning-life that burns in both of them. But would Reiner turn down Eren's kiss just because of that? Of course not. He'd probably want more than just a kiss, though—and therein lies the catch. Sure, they could go to Eren's room and shut the door, but Reiner wouldn't be able to relax. Not like this.

So maybe it's for the best that Eren doesn't kiss him. There's always next time.

(There will be a next time. There's no doubt in Reiner's mind.)

Reiner starts to step away when Eren's words reach him, bringing him up short. Once again, he spends a moment simply staring at Eren, watching those large green eyes as the words sink in, the sound spreading, sending echoes throughout his mind.

Don't die. Don't die like this.

Mere months in Reiner's past, Eren wished for something entirely different. He wished for Reiner and Bertolt to die the most painful death possible. Is that what this is? Is this freezing curse not painful enough to satisfy Eren?

No. No, that isn't it. Maybe Reiner will doubt it later, self-loathing and guilt getting the better of him, igniting a fresh craving for judgment and punishment. Right now, however, Reiner knows that's not what Eren means.

Don't die.

In other words: stay alive.

("What do you wanna be?" Reiner asked in the dark, his fingers stroking Eren's hair, lips pressed to Eren's skin. And Eren answered, "Alive.")

"… Okay," Reiner says, surrendering again. Surrendering without knowing everything it entails, the weight of a promise not to die. Surrendering and sinking in deeper, not knowing where it ends. Not wanting it to end.

He smiles, small but sincere. "You stay alive too, Eren," he says. Then he starts back toward the others, cradling the warmth still alight within.