So as of posting this, we pretty much left at a nice breaking point from the main story, Shingeki no Shinzo. I've had this sitting for a while now and thought now would be a good time to post it. These are Reiner's thoughts on key events of the main story. I won't be rewriting the ENTIRE saga but just a few to get a good grip on how Reiner thinks. And again, I DON'T read the manga. So how Reiner thinks and acts will solely conform to how he already acted in the main story. This may be a little OC? or maybe I'm hitting the right points? I don't know hahahaha, but please don't spoil me. This is meant to be bonus content anyway, so the length of the chapters will vary, and I'm not sure if I can make it as hard hitting as the main one, but I still hope you enjoy!
It would be nice to say that I had the body clock of a model soldier. Waking up at sunrise, giving myself enough time for morning warm up exercises and a nice bath, all right before breakfast. Problem was, my body clock is complete hell, and the only reason I woke up earlier than usual today was because Bertholdt's foot was kicking my face again. We've only been here for a day and he's already sleeping like he owned the place. Granted, he really hasn't slept in a nice cushioned bed in a while, and what kind of friend would I be if I told him off for sleeping comfortably?
Getting down from our bunk, it looked like only a handful of other recruits were stirring up as well. I don't know why, but it was extremely annoying hearing them greet each other a good morning. These idiots are so clueless it makes me sick. One of them is looking at me now, but I look back and he immediately turns away. I guess I'm scowling again. I never really notice half the time I do, only when Bertholdt tells me.
Seeing that it was maybe an hour before breakfast, I decided to go for a walk outside. Any place was good as long as I didn't have to see any of these people. On my way out though, something catches my eye to the right, and I find myself staring at Connie's sleeping figure.
He's one of the biggest idiots in here that's for sure, and I'm still trying to figure out why I even asked him to come with me last night. I guess it makes me curious, to understand how people like them tick. But at the same time, I can't get his blushing face off my head. It was strangely...entertaining, to watch him get caught off guard from all the little stuff I did last night. A shame really. In a normal world, he'd be a pretty likeable person, but in this world and with that attitude, he'd be the first one to die in the field.
I guess one of the best parts of signing up for the military is all the free food they're giving us, although it did mean I had to eat it with everyone else in the same room, it beats having to scavenge for food in the streets. I wait for Bertholdt to arrive while I save us a seat. I saw Annie earlier too, and was about to ask her how her first night was before she gave me one of her indifferent stares.
"Morning Reiner," came the soft voice that could only have come from Bertholdt. Despite being a giant—pardon the pun—easily towering above everyone else in the room, he was such a soft spoken guy.
"Morning. You sleep well?" I asked even if I already knew the answer to that.
"Yeah. Very well actually. I'm surprised you were already out of bed when I woke," he said as he took the seat across from me before taking a bite from his bread roll, slightly moaning as he chewed. "Aw man, this bread is freshly baked. It tastes amazing."
I couldn't hold in the small laugh after the face he made, and snickered as I took a bite from my own.
"What's so funny?" he asked while he chewed, his brows raising in curiousity.
"Remember that time we found that really moldy bread by the bakery window? We were so hungry we didn't even care how fuzzy it looked and we just brushed the mold off." I smile at the memory, making Bertholdt laugh over it too.
"We had stomachaches for two days after that, and Annie kept telling us how how stupid we were."
Remembering Annie's face from that time got me laughing and wishing she was here sitting with us too. "I can't believe we even thought it tasted good."
I was about to take another bite when someone suddenly shouted from across the room, making us look.
"Oh shit!"
Over at the table by the window, Connie was making a ruckus with the people he was sitting with. I couldn't hear everything he was saying from where we were, something to do with bread? It looked like he was handing out his roll to the guy he was with and he was...blushing.
"You're scowling again," Bertholdt said matter-of-factly, his lips pursed in a small smile. "You're never going to make any friends if you keep doing that."
"And why would I want to make friends?" I scoff and go back to my meal, trying my best to ignore what was going on at the the other table and disregarding the fact that Connie just turned beet red over something his friend said. What do I care, right? At least that's what I keep thinking to myself as I pour all my effort into keeping my eyes on the plate in front of me and not at him.
After breakfast we were immediately taken to the training field for today's exercise. An aptitude test, to determine if we were capable of balancing ourselves on a harness similar to that of the ODM gear. The commander was in front of the lines briefing everyone, with the threat of getting kicked out if we weren't able to accomplish the exercise.
"Hey, Reiner," Bertholdt whispered next to me, "I think we may have found someone with a scarier face than yours."
I roll my eyes just as the commander started calling out the first names to go on the harnesses, and my interest piqued when one of them was Connie. Wait what? What is up with me today? Every time that little bald kid was involved I keep getting sidetracked. I look at him as he goes up the harness with the others and this time I don't even try to pretend not to care, watching him a little too intently as he tries to balance himself.
He was good at this, just a few seconds up there and he was already perched like he's done this sort of thing before. Huh, maybe he's not such an idiot after all. I try to hold back the smile that's forming so Bertholdt doesn't see, but I keep my gaze trained on him and we lock eyes the instant he turns to my direction.
He was blushing again, and I had to do everything I could to keep it from affecting me. What is it about him blushing that makes me feel so weird? Man, get a hold of yourself.
"Alright! That's enough, bring them down!" Commander Shadis' voice rang over the field signalling for the first batch to alight, and even then my eyes are still glued to the little guy. Maybe I should go talk to him. What I told him last night wasn't a complete lie, and I really am interested in how he wants to prove himself as a soldier.
"Where are you going?" Bertholdt asked when I started walking, so I turned and gave him a smile.
"Trying to be less scary for once." I walk towards him then, darting my way through the throng of people all eager and excited for the activity in front of them. I was only a few steps away now when somebody beat me to him. It's that guy he was fooling around with earlier at breakfast, Marco I think his name was. I watch them talk from my spot and feel my face instantly growing hot when I see Connie blush at the other boy and smile like a sheepdog. I vaguely notice my fists clenching as I walk towards them. Stomping is a better word actually, passing right between them and purposely brushing hard on Connie's shoulder.
I inwardly scold myself for that the moment I pass by though . What the hell is wrong with me? I didn't want to admit it but here I am, jealous of the attention Connie was giving the other lad. We only met last night and, yeah maybe I flirted with him a bit, but it didn't mean anything.
"Braun! You're up, let's go!"
I make my way to the front of the lines upon hearing the commander's call and try to push the thoughts away with no success. If talking to Connie last night didn't mean anything, then why is not talking to him now affecting me so much?
"C'mon Reiner, Bertholdt, there must be something you can tell me how to stay up those things? You two were one of the best from earlier," Eren said from across the table, hoping to get some pointers on today's test. I gotta hand it to the guy, after seeing a few others try and sit with me and Bertholdt over dinner tonight, Eren and his smaller friend Armin were the only ones brave enough to actually stay around my company.
"Sorry man, but I don't really think there's a trick to hanging on the harness. You just have to feel it and let your body adjust naturally," I say before getting my mug to drink. He was a really determined guy wasn't he? But determination alone won't get him to be a soldier, and looks like he knew that too with the way he hung his head just now.
"So...is it true that you guys are from Shiganshina?" Bertholdt said suddenly and I almost spat my drink out with his question. Where was he going with this?
"Yeah. We were there when it happened." This time it was Armin who answered, giving Bertholdt a small rueful smile as he spoke. How ironic, that he seemed ashamed when the two people who ruined their lives were sitting right in front of him. "But Eren here saw more than I did. All the blood and destruction…"
"I'm...sorry." Bertholdt sighed, looking down at his hands.
"You guys are from Wall Maria too right? Then we're pretty much on the same boat here then."
Oh how the irony just keeps getting better. "Yeah. We're probably the only few who know what we're really up against, what the titans are like."
"It's not really the kind of experience I'm proud of though," Eren answered, his eyes lighting up. "But it's a wake up call nonetheless, and that's why I'm here. I won't rest until every titan in the world is killed."
As twisted as that sounded from my perspective, his drive is quite admirable. Even after seeing all that horror as a kid, he still enlisted. There's a lot to be said about that, and it would be a shame if he didn't get to pass the aptitude test. "There's no trick to hanging on the harness, but maybe with a little practice and adjustments, we can get you up in no time."
His green eyes lit up at that, and the huge grin he made was contagious. "R-really?! Thank you Reiner! Thank you!"
We talked some more all through supper that night until the evening bell rang, signalling everyone to prepare for bed. Walking back to the dorm, I couldn't help but notice how Bertholdt really got along with Eren and Armin. I didn't realize he genuinely wanted to make friends here, and I feel a little guilty for scaring off some of the other people that tried to approach us earlier
"Hey you guys go ahead. Gotta use the outhouse." I gave the three of them a small wave before turning back around the other direction. Bertholdt may want the company, but I'm still not up for socializing with the others really, and I don't wanna ruin that for him. So I guess a walk alone would do me some good.
The stars were out and the evening air had a nice breeze to it. It was a really nice night. Maybe I could go walk around the woods again, or maybe find that lake we saw from the cliff last night. Yeah that'll be nice. I could really get used to this place, and three years of training isn't looking so bad now.
I was about to make a turn when someone suddenly bumps into me. I look down with slight surprise at the person and inwardly shake my head. What are the chances that it had to be him?
"Ow!-shit, sorry man I didn't—" Connie rubbed his forehead and looked up, mirroring the same surprised eyes once he realized who I was. "Oh. Hi Reiner."
"Hey." Is it me or did the air just change?
"Umm so...nice weather tonight, huh?" Connie said and scratched the back of his shaven head, giving me an awkward smile. And to make it worse, I awkwardly smiled back too.
"Uh. Yeah. I heard you did great today. At the simulation thing," I say as I try to blow away the awkward air that seemed to choke the both of us right then. But what I can't seem to blow away are the thoughts that came rushing to my head as I look at him. Thoughts of him and Marco together. I tried not to steal glances at their table earlier at dinner, and I tried not to look at the way they were talking, but I couldn't help it. Point is I tried.
"Oh, that. Yeah well, It was nothing really, anyone could do it I guess," he said sheepishly. I half expected him to brag about it and be a little proud of himself, and am a little surprised when he didn't. It brings me back to everything he told me last night, and I find myself wishing for that comfortable vibe we had instead of this awkward haze, but I can't get my mind off of today. Maybe I should ask him about Marco, to finally quiet my nagging thoughts. But then again, why do I even have to know in the first place? And why would he even tell me? I can't believe I'm even thinking about this right now, but I can't stand not knowing.
"So—uhh. Today, I noticed you and Mar-"
"Hey Connie!" We both jumped at the sound of his voice before I see him running towards us, and I swear I wanted to kill the freckled man right at that moment. "There you are! I went to the outhouse just now and since you weren't back yet, I thought I'd run into you. Oh, hey there Reiner!"
He must be kidding. I wanted to punch that smiling face of his so bad it was making my fists hurt. Are they a thing now? After just one day? Or do they know each other even before coming here? My mind is so littered and I almost forget that they're both waiting for me to respond. So I just nod at him, and quickly walk away. I try to cool my head with what just went on back there and sort my thoughts out. After a while my mind has come up with two things that prevailed over the rest. One, I can't believe I'm starting to like the bald headed runt. Two, I was jealous. Extremely jealous.
This is my first time writing in POV, and coming from a character I barely even know in canon (yet). But this is fun to write and I would love it if you left me your thoughts on this and maybe your 2 cents on how I can make it better :) but please for the love of reicon. No spilers! :D