Chapter II: Young Hero
"The most professional curse ever snarled or croaked or thundered can have no effect on a pure heart."
A young Reiner was wandering through Trost, carrying his farm product to sell in the city in bag heavily weighed down by the foodstuffs. He'd been through plenty of times so he knew the best way to get around, the quickest ways navigate it and the merchants who would pay the most for what he had to offer. However, that day he decided to take a longer route and explore areas he wasn't as familiar with – seeking out the less taken paths and alleyways. In truth, he was looking for more than just a merchant to sell to that day.
A pained scream rang out nearby, causing him to abruptly stop in his path. He swore he recognized the scream, but more than that was his hero complex compelling him to help someone in need. The scream was definitely female and between the pained screeches he could hear men cackling and saying things he couldn't discern yet. Reiner had to investigate at the very least, so he followed the voices. It didn't take him long to find the source, but he made sure to not reveal himself right away so he could assess the situation before acting. He peered from behind a corner down a dead end alleyway where a group of older boys were beating on a young girl.
"That's-!" He exclaimed, almost too loudly.
The vaguely familiar scream was enough to get him curious, but that messy silver hair was more than enough to confirm it. Many of the boys were standing around watching – and laughing, while one in specific was physically assaulting Priscilla. The boy was kneeling down next to her with his head gripping her by the hair, raising it up to look at him.
"Scream all you want, but an invalid like you won't get any help." He sneered with a sick satisfaction, then looked up at his gang of friends, "Should we let up on her now?" He added with an evil grin, knowing very well what they would say.
"Hell no!" One shouted, "Bleed out the thieving brat!"
With an animalistic growl, the boy gripped her hair tighter and smashed her head against the ground mercilessly. Priscilla wailed in agony again, but weaker this time, like she was losing the will to even just cry for help. Reiner was frozen – he wanted to do something but he hadn't a clue of what. The boy then released her head and stood up. He paused, making Priscilla think it could be over, but he was not done with her yet. He swung his leg and kicked her hard in the ribs, drawing another cry out from the girl. And again. And again.
"HEY!" Reiner shouted, impulsively making himself known.
He slowly stepped into the alley, gulping hard. All the boys froze as and slowly looked his way. The leader looked especially displeased with this disturbance and stood up, while the others remained restraining their prey.
"And who the fuck are you?" The leader asked, slowly approaching Reiner.
"The hell does it matter?" Reiner growled, "Leave the girl alone."
"Ohhh well it looks like our favorite toy has a Knight to defend her!" The leader laughed, briefly turning back to look at Priscilla, "When did you go and make a friend, hm?"
"Run... run away..." She moaned, still obviously in immense pain.
"I think this shit head needs a lesson of his own." The leader suggested, "You two, keep her down and make sure she watches. Rest of you, with me."
Three of his followers stood up while the remaining two kept Priscilla down, with one grabbing her face to keep her from turning away. The four older boys approached Reiner, who stood his ground despite the fear rising within him. With no hesitation, the leader pulled his arm back and punched Reiner in the jaw, completely knocking him on his back.
"No, please!" Priscilla shouted, "He didn't do anything wrong!"
The rest all joined in, with some kneeling down to pummel Reiner with their fists while the rest kicked him hard. Reiner gritted his teeth to keep himself from crying out in pain, he knew he was no match for all these assholes so he just took the abuse in Priscilla's place. Tears filled Priscilla's eyes as she watched the one person who had helped her be beaten until he was bruised and bloody. After a while of punishing Reiner, the leader let up and instructed his friends to do the same.
"Don't ever let me catch you sniffing around us again, you got it?" The psychopath growled.
Reiner looked up at him with pure hatred in his eyes, but refrained from saying anything. He was furious but just level headed enough to know if he provoked them that they might return to harming Priscilla.
"That's what I thought." The leader remarked, "Come on boys, we'll continue this another day."
They all backed off, jeering and snickering about the abuse they had inflicted on a pair of kids. Reiner remained on the ground, breathing heavily as he recovered from his beating. Priscilla, however, immediately jumped up and ran over to him.
"Reiner?!" She exclaimed, "Why did you... Are you... Are you alright?"
"I'm fine..." He breathed, "I had to stop them. What kind of man would I be if I just let them treat you like that?"
"Don't you dare do something so stupid again." Priscilla scolded, tears still in her eyes. Reiner weakly sat up and took a good look at the girl he just saved.
"Your nose..." He muttered, pointing at her face.
Priscilla raised her hand to her nose, feeling around just below it. Looking at her fingers she observed blood upon them. With a soft "hrmph" she grabbed the hem of her dress, ripped off a scrap and gently dabbed the blood dripping from her nose. Reiner's face was bloodied up too, which she of course felt horribly guilty about. She tossed away her bloodied rag and tore off yet another piece of fabric, kneeling down and carefully wiping the blood off her savior's lips and brow.
"What are you doing here anyway?" She asked softly as she cleaned him up.
"Came into town to sell our produce." Reiner explained, "But in truth... I had hoped to maybe see you again. I brought extra to give you in case we crossed paths."
Priscilla froze, speechless and stunned by this revelation.
"You're... so stupid." She finally said, resuming her cleaning.
"Maybe I am." Reiner replied, managing a crooked smile, "You know though... I never got your name."
"Oh, I uh... figured it didn't matter much."
"If we're gonna be friends we oughta know each other's names, right?"
With his face all tidied up, Priscilla tossed away the rag.
"Friends..." She whispered, "Yeah. Okay. Friends. My name is Priscilla Ziegler."
"Reiner Braun." He added.
"Reiner Braun..." She repeated, as if to properly seal it in her memory, "Well Reiner, now I promise to repay you 100 times over! Anything you might need, I'll do my best."
"Anything?" He asked, prompting her to nod rapidly, "...Just smile."
The young girl gasped and gawked at his simple request. That was really the best he could come up with? It was shocking, but she did promise him she'd do anything and she wasn't about to break that promise. With a furrowed brow, she twisted her mouth awkwardly at first as if such an action were completely foreign to her before it slowly morphed into a sweet and grateful smile. Reiner grinned right back at her.
"It suits you." he commented.
"Ahh..." Priscilla covered up her face to hide her sudden blush, "Don't say weird stuff like that!" She added bashfully from behind her palms.
The thoroughly flustered girl kept her face hidden until she felt safe enough to reveal it again. She grumbled and let out a low "harumph" sound as she lowered her hands, looking away from the boy who had helped her out twice now.
"You still with me? Helloooo?"
Reiner was waving his hand in front of his companion's face, pulling her out of her recollection of their second meeting. She chuckled and scratched her cheek with her index finger.
"Ah, lost in thought." She softly spoke.
The night had been cloudy thus far, hiding the bright moon above. However, the clouds began to part and the light of the celestial body shone down upon the world. Priscilla looked up – she was always fixated on the moon, maybe even enchanted by it. Something about the moonlight invigorated her and made her feel something she couldn't quite place. Pangs of nostalgia definitely accompanied these feelings – before she was left without a home, she could just barely remember spending time with her mother while the moon hung in the sky above. She had a vague recollection of her mother weaving fantastical stories for her before lulling her to sleep.
But that was just a far off memory now, one that seemed to fade more and more each day.
That didn't seem too terrible, however. Priscilla was determined to advance forward and leave the past behind. After all, there was nothing she could do to change or fix it, what truly mattered was the future. By no means could she foresee what lied ahead, but she knew for sure one thing that she wanted in her future : That guy who could be somewhat dense at times that sat beside her now. It wouldn't be a stretch to call her obsessed, but how could she not be? He was her hero after all, as much as he tried to downplay that fact.
Priscilla tore her gaze away from the moon and stood up quickly, offering a hand to Reiner.
"We should probably go, it's getting late." She said, "We need to make sure our bodies are at their peaks at all times from now on, and a good night's rest is key to that."
"You a doctor all of a sudden?" Reiner quipped, reaching up and grabbing her extended hand.
"Smart ass." She replied playfully as she pulled him up to his feet. Reiner stood several inches above her, but it was laughable to think he was in any way intimidating to her, "I just don't want us to become Titan fodder."
"I thought you weren't scared of that?"
"Not scared, but it would be terribly inconvenient, wouldn't it? I plan to live a long life y'know." She clarified.
She so desperately wanted to exclaim that she wanted Reiner by her side in her hopefully long life, but as affectionate as she was towards him, she still hadn't made it clear just how deep her feelings ran. While Priscilla claimed to not be afraid of anything, not even the Titans, confessing her love filled her heart and soul with an undeniable terror. She could only pray to whatever God that may exist that she'd someday find the strength to admit to Reiner how she felt... how she felt for a long time... But tonight wasn't the time.