#no.7

You pulled into the small parking lot, backing into one of the spaces in the corner, ensuring there was enough space to open your trunk and backdoors. You sighed, checking your phone for Reiner’s apartment number again. 24 . You grabbed your bag from the passenger seat, sliding out of the car and locking it

You didn’t even have to knock before the door was opened, met with tired eyes and a man who looked like he’d lost more weight than was good for him. “Jesus Christ, Reiner. Why didn’t you call me sooner?” You mumbled, not even making it into the apartment as his head fell to your shoulder.

Reiner Braun had been your best-friend since you were both little, though, life ended up taking you 15 hours away to Maria, where you lived in Trost for a few years, eventually called back when you’d finished uni. You’d received a call from Bertholdt, who was concerned Reiner might be suicidal again.

However, he was asking you to move back in, knowing you had finished school and he was too bust looking after his sick father full time after his mother’s passing a few months ago, it just wasn’t something he could do — added to the fact his girlfriend had just moved in with him — her being a nurse, helping the tall boy look after his father,

Your hands immediately flew to Reiner’s hair, combing your fingers through the short blond locks as you supported his weight. He was still heavy — granted, not the 100 kilos he used to be — but he was still a decent lump. “Your okay.. I’ve got you.” You whispered into his hair, pressing the side of your nose just above his head. “Do you want some tea or something before I start moving stuff into the apartment?” You asked softly, pulling your head back, brushing his hair away from his face — simultaneously holding his head up.

He shook his head, staring into your eyes before standing up straight. “Lets get the boxes in and then we can make tea and order dinner or something… I already set up the spare room. Well, Pieck and Porco did when they came over earlier.” He sighed, sliding on his shoes and following you down the elevator and out to the car.

“Pieck and Pock came over?” You asked, glancing over your shoulder as you unlocked the trunk.

He nodded, grabbing one of the boxes out, holding his arms out and allowing you to stack a blanket on top of it. “Yeah… they keep coming over, so does Grice. I think Bert probably put them up to something now that he’s not around as much.” He grunted, waiting for you to grab one of the duffel bags before swiping your foot under the car to close the trunk — thank God for modern technology.

“I think that’s a good thing. You know, someone still coming to check up on you. Better than when Bert decided he wanted to watch over you 25/8.” You sighed, pushing the elevator button with your elbow.

“Yeah.. Whatever. Doesn’t change the fact I still have him calling me every two hours.” He grumbled. The two of you unloaded the car slowly, it taking about an hour before he sat down in your room with you, two tea cups in hand, watching you unpack.

He placed a cup down on the bedside table with a ‘Clink!’ sipping slowly from the other one. “So… how was Maria? As pretty as the pictures? You shrugged, shoving clothes into the respective drawers that Pieck had kindly donated you, meaning that you didn’t have to go on a wardrobe hunt so quickly after arriving.

“It was good. I met some nice people. I’ll go back in the summer to meet up with everyone, you can come with if you would like too. We can book the tickets now.” You glanced over, watching him shift on your bed, avoiding the t-shirt you threw at the soft mattress in preparation for bed.

“Maybe. I’d like to give it some time before I start thinking about the future.” He answered truthfully. That was good, meant he was getting somewhere, even if it wasn’t far. Idle chatter flowed between the two of you as you unpacked, until finally, you unpacked the last bad, shoving it under your bed.

Reiner was scrolling, looking for a good food place to order from, eventually passing the phone to you to pick what you wanted from a Chinese restaurant. The food was good, you watched Reiner pick around at his plate for his while before eventually eating slowly.

It was sad seeing him like this, so unwell, so exhausted — mentally and physically. He looked as if he had a lot to say but didn’t quite know how to say it, that dam broke when you asked how things with his mother were. Which was responded too with an immediate break of tears, sudden and ugly.

“Hey- hey what happened?” Food was discarded onto the coffee table, moving to the other end of the sofa as the blonde haired man hid in your arms, trembling like a lost dog. He didn’t say much, just sobbing into your chest, tears soaking the flimsy fabric. He sniffled, choking out a strangled explanation that really didn’t help much. He pulled back, covering his face, opening his mouth to speak before deciding steading out his breathing would be a better first choice.

You took deep breaths with him, guiding him to a more steady breath as he calmed himself down, well, attempted to anyway. “I just.. fuck… I want it to end. She doesn’t listen. I asked her for help… I did. I promise. I asked her and she ignored me and left me to fend for my self and I tried to reach out myself but it turned out she hadn’t even added me onto the family’s doctor list.” He choked out, wiping his nose with the back of his wrist.

Your face shifted, Reiner had never had a good relationship with his mother, but God, you never thought she would go as far as completely ignoring his calls for help. “Reiner you should’ve called my parents or the Galliards.. they would’ve helped you set that up.” You sighed, reaching out to take hold of his hand, rubbing your thumb against his veins.

His bottom jaw shuddered, lip quaking. “I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. I’d just be causing more issues for everyone.” He mumbled and you swore your heart shattered into a million pieces.

“Reiner…”

“I’m tired, I’m so tired of feeling this way and I thought that maybe this time she’d change and she’d actually pay attention but she didn’t. I swear to God sometimes it’s like she wishes I was dead. Like she wants someone I’m not.” He hissed out, gesturing to himself. “I know Bert only called you back because he was worried, Okay? You don’t have to pretend like it’s not true. I just- fuck. I can’t.” His head shifted to his hands, gripping his hair tightly,

“Reiner I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be, you’ve known me long enough now to know I don’t go to places I don’t want too.” He stared at you, almost dumbfounded for a moment before sighing.

“I’m sorry, this was so stupid. I’ve just — I’ve gone and fucked it over. Of course I know that, it’s just… I feel like I have to prove to you that I’m capable of living on my own. I don’t want to end up plaguing you with more issues than you had in the beginning. you shouldn’t feel like you have to be here.”

“Don’t say that… Please. Please don’t. I want to be around you. Just, as long as you’re okay, I’m fine. Yeah? I want you in one piece, I want the best for you and I want you safe. How about, we continue watching our movie, and tomorrow I can get you in with my family’s doctor and we can get you therapy and whatever else you need. Yeah? We don’t have to face all of this right now, okay?”

He nodded, staring at you, shifting to sit more comfotably against the sofa arm, patting the space right next to him, grabbing his and your food off the table and pressing play on the TV. “Sounds good. Thank you.” He whispered, as if scared to break the moment. You leaned into him continuing to watch the screen. “I love you.” He added in a quiet voice, barely heard over the speakers.

“I love you too, Reiner.” You said in return, meaning it with your whole heart.