"Hey, Bert" Reiner nudged Bertholdt on his ribcage. "There's a piano over there, how about you start playing some music? You could really impress Annie".
Bertholdt's eyes widened and his cheeks started burning from the comment alone. He felt a twinge of disappointment in his chest. "If only you knew the one I'd want to impress is you". Bertholdt had no idea what Reiner was thinking. Why did he always insist on saying he was into Annie? Was he just messing with him? Did he usually do something that made it seem as though he liked Annie? He considered her a close friend, and he worried about her. She was coolheaded, "emotionless", and independent, but Bertholdt knew there was more to her. He just worried, that's all, but how is that supposed to mean he likes her romantically? He thought hard about this every time Reiner mentioned her, but he couldn't find an answer. He wishes he could clarify he doesn't feel anything romantic towards her, but he knew Reiner wouldn't be satisfied with that answer. "Well, who do you like, then?" Reiner would most likely ask. Bertholdt could easily respond "no one", but he'd be lying, and Reiner would notice instantly. In the end, he was too much of a coward to even think about telling Reiner the truth. "It's you. It's always been you".
Reiner noticed his friend space out, he usually did so whenever he mentioned Annie. He really must like her, eh? The mention of her name alone is enough to make Bertholdt get lost in his little world. Annie was great. In fact, she was one of Reiner's closest friends, and he knew she reciprocated the feeling but was too cold and prideful to admit it. But he still didn't get it—why was Bertholdt so crazy about her? They're antithesis at its finest.
Sure, social norms, and even science, dictate "opposites attract", but Bertholdt and Annie take it to another level. Bertholdt is extremely gentle and needy, he requires a lot of attention and affection. Annie would never be able to give him that—she's too autonomous, too independent. Some of his relationships in the past ended because he couldn't get this, but he moved on.
So why was Annie the exception? Why did he still like her and refused to move on? This thought fried Reiner's brain. It frustrated him to the core and he wanted to convince himself, no, he needed to convince himself that it was just him worrying about his best friend. But deep down he knew the truth, and it's a truth he didn't want to acknowledge.
It made him jealous. It made him so jealous that overthinking it made him nauseous, and at times, shake. He hated this. He despised the fact that while he stared at him, appreciating every feature, every expression on that beautiful boy; while he was thinking about him at night and fantasising about them, Bertholdt was doing the same but with Annie. It turned his stomach, he couldn't bear it. He just-
"You guys! Over here" Mikasa's voice interrupted his thoughts. She was pointing at their large booth near the bar, where Annie, Armin, Krista, Eren, Sasha and Belanor were sitting—waiting for their drinks. "Boilermaker!" Eren said prior to coming here. "It's one of the manliest drinks out there". Reiner couldn't help but smile at Eren's strange childishness. No, he didn't have a kid's innocence, and he sure as hell didn't do things any sane child would, but he still reminded him, in some way, of a little kid. Was it his enthusiasm? His obliviousness? After all, Eren was the type of guy who had a respectable number of girls who crushed on him, but was too dumb to notice it.
Sometimes he wondered if Eren was gay or asexual. Not that there's anything wrong with either, he was just curious. Reiner disrupted his thoughts to make his way over to his friends. He noticed Bertholdt was still spaced out, thinking about who knows what. Probably about Annie, rehearsing in his head what he's going to say to her, or how good she looks. Here comes the nausea again…
Reiner placed his hand on Bertholdt's shoulder "What are you waiting for? Let's go already!". Bertholdt slightly jumped at the action, not expecting it and due to being interrupted from his wandering mind. "Y-yeah".
They approached the booth, Reiner leaned on the bar's counter with poise to order a different drink, and Bertholdt took in the scenario. Eren could barely contain his excitement over his boilermaker, swinging Armin back and forth, demanding him to snap a picture of him holding his drink. Sasha and Krista were gossiping, while the former stuffed her mouth with peanuts. And Mikasa… Oh. Mikasa.
She looked… strangely incredible. She looked radiant, beautiful… and… happy? Mikasa was known to be like Annie in the sense she usually bore a stone face. Until recently, that had been changing little by little. It's not as though Mikasa was a Sasha or Krista-kind-of-happy right now, but to someone observant it was clear she was different. Ever since she got together with Belanor, something in her has changed.
Bertholdt was happy about this. She was so obsessed with being around Eren at all times that he thought she'd never be able to be with someone. Eren supposedly saved her life (though nobody knows the details except for the two of them, and maybe Armin), so her feeling indebted to him was understandable, but it still seemed like a little too much. Now it appears her mind is expanding, and her life doesn't revolve around Eren alone.
Krista's laugh snapped him out of his thoughts, and the sight of what caused it made his heart wrench. Reiner was whispering things in her ear, and she was clinging to his arm while genuinely laughing, and Reiner couldn't help but smile and laugh back.
He felt so out of place right now. Not only was everyone having fun, but he was the only one standing, doing nothing at all. Everyone else was seated, and nobody seemed to notice he didn't have a spot. Reiner didn't even bother on asking what he wanted to drink, or tell him to sit when he came back with his drink.
Yes, the music was somewhat loud, everyone's drinking and conversing, but was his presence really so weak that no one noticed him? That no one thought about saying "Oh, Bertl, you should have asked me to move!" or "Here, let me scoot over so you can have a seat!". He was sure he could leave right now and no one would notice—not even Reiner. He had to bite his lower lip to hold back tears that were threatening to form.
He felt someone behind him grab his arm, and turning his head to see the responsible person, his eyes widened at the sight. It was a blonde beauty fashioning medium length straight hair, wearing a black and white crop shirt, a black skirt with red lines and medium black heels. It was Annie.
He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. It's the first time he's ever seen Annie so… chic. She looked incredible. Why didn't she dress like this more often? She didn't look bad wearing her usual hoodies and jeans, with her hair tied in a ponytail. But wearing her hair down, straightened, with slight make up on and revealing clothing, looking sexy yet elegant at the same time? And people say Krista is angelic!
He didn't question this further and simply enjoyed the sight. Annie blushed and looked down, moving a strand of hair behind her ear. That's when Bertholdt realised he hadn't said anything. "A-Annie. You look—" "You can have my seat" Annie interrupted.
"W-what?" Stop stuttering, you idiot. This is why no one likes you.
"I'm going to leave. You can have it" Bertholdt was surprised to hear this.
"What do you mean? It hasn't even been an hour."
"It doesn't matter. This is too crowded… and I don't really have a reason to stay anymore". Her eyes still wandered down, but Bertholdt noticed they were looking at someone from the corner of her eye.
That must be it, she's like this to impress someone and they're not paying attention, isn't she? But whom? Oh my God. She's offering her seat. She's the only person on this booth out of seven people that noticed him and was thoughtful enough to offer a seat. Not only this, but Bertholdt totally didn't notice her, so could it be him? Could she have been trying to impress him?
She quickly glanced to her right and switched her sights to the bar. Bertholdt looked at the direction she glanced and immediately understood. It was Eren, playing a game on his phone while waiting for Armin to come back from the bathroom. Really? She's trying to impress Eren?
Of course she is. Why would he even be stupid enough to think she'd be trying to impress him? Not even his best friend noticed him right now, so why would she? (Wait, didn't he just say she's the only one who noticed him? He's not even making any sense right now!) She's probably just trying to say "Here, take my seat you sad loser, you look ridiculous standing around, so sit your ass down".
Annie just held her left arm shyly and started walking away, Bertholdt noticing a couple of seconds later. He spaced out again, didn't he? She probably said something and he didn't even listen. This is why no one cares about him. He's so out of reality, why would anyone waste their time with him?
He ran after Annie and grabbed her arm, making her look back at him. Now they were far enough from the large booth to not hear their friends' conversations.
"A-Annie, don't leave. I don't know what you mean with not having a reason to stay, but don't go".
Annie pulled her arm back. "I'm not comfortable in this place, there's no—"
Bertholdt grabbed her arm again, and with a polite but shy smile interrupted her. "Come on, you really put some effort in your clothing and make up tonight, don't let that go to waste."
As soon as he realised what he said his cheeks flared up, scared that Annie might get mad. She didn't. She ignored the remark and blushed.
"What surprises me is the fact you're still here, given how you were standing around looking at everyone like a lost puppy".
Bertholdt blushed even harder, and started screaming internally. "She noticed! I knew she was offering her seat out of pity. Oh Bertholdt, woe is you!".
He rubbed the back of his neck, breaking eye contact. "W-well… honestly, I feel really awkward too… like I don't fit in, even though we're all friends, you know?".
Annie's gaze softened and noticed Bertholdt was still holding her arm. She gently let go. "I guess that makes two of us".
The next thing that came out of Bertholdt's mouth took a lot of courage to say. He felt a drop of sweat starting to form and his heart was racing, because he usually didn't ask things like these without thoroughly rehearsing them in his head. Yeah, he was that awkward.
"W-well… w-we can do our own thing… y-you know?" Annie couldn't help but try to hold back a laugh over Bertholdt's stuttering.
"You're like a baby that's learning to speak." Bertholdt regretted saying anything and was thinking of an excuse to leave. Should he evacuate by saying he needs to go to the bathroom!? Should he pretend he's ill!? What should he do!? Annie must have noticed the panic on his face, because her next move caught him off guard, starting with her rare-but-oh-so-cute-laugh.
"Sorry, that was mean", she said as she nudged his shoulder. The intention of it was entirely innocent, it was meant to be a playful and/or friendly move, but to a certain onlooker, it seemed like something else.
"What were you going to suggest?" Bertholdt just smiled at her question and, with a bit of effort, made eye contact.
"I-I was thinking we could get some drinks and just chat outside. We could even walk around, not here, I don't know…".
"I don't like alcohol".
"Y-yeah, me neither… but I didn't say they had to be alcoholic drinks… r-right? Doesn't have to be here"
Annie couldn't help but slightly smile. "I guess. It's not like I have anything better to do anyway. But on one condition."
Bertholdt perked up. "Huh?".
"You pay".
Bertholdt let out a genuine laugh. "I guess that's the price I must pay to hang out with you.". Annie looked at him smugly
"You better consider yourself lucky".
This is strange, he couldn't remember the last time he had such a smooth interaction with Annie. He actually felt… really comfortable. And he could sense she felt the same.
"I guess I have to. W-well… where are my manners? After you" He moved aside and extended his arm to pave way for her. Annie walked past him and he followed. This was nice. She didn't expect to hang out with Bertholdt tonight, but I guess unexpected things can be nice too.
Bertholdt and Annie were starting to feel comfortable now—their night was beginning to look promising. But unbeknownst to them, a certain onlooker's took the opposite turn over their short interaction. If Reiner got jealous just from thinking about Bertholdt liking Annie, now he was furious to the core. He left with her? And without saying goodbye? Just what are these two up to? It couldn't be, but from what he saw and how relaxed Annie was, he just knew. She likes him back, doesn't she? He could feel himself tense up. His night was ruined now.