Reiner could feel Bertholdt slipping away. He felt like he was about to see his best friend crawl into a far too small car with all of his possessions packed in luggage and drive into the sunset and never be seen again.

The brunet was a sheltered boy so he didn't bring it up to Reiner yet the obvious that they would separate if he sent in his final application and completed the signup process.

Reiner already sent his application to Paradis Academy. Even with his financial aid eligibility, studying kinesiology would cause a tough few years for him and his mom. The studies let him combine his fit physique with his intelligence and great retention of information and it had been a dream for years that he couldn't believe it when he got accepted. He could never afford a school as expensive as Marley University and he hadn't even applied. His mom wanted him to go to a good Christian college like Paradis and refused to send him to the hedonistic liberal path to hell with a druggie arts department that is Marley, her words.

Paradis was where everyone was going. The buildings were up to modern standards so Pieck could go there. Reiner's other friends also went. Zeke had put in the group chat that his fabled brother from another mother would be coming too, and if he did, then so would the rest of his friends. Reiner he decided he would never judge anyone for what they had done in their previous life. Wouldn't he want to be treated the same way? Even if that meant forgiving Eren for the rumbling. They should all be alive and happy as friends with no murders or betrayals there to take away the most fun years of their lives but Bertholdt was supposed to be there with him. He deserved to be friends with these people again and live a happy life alongside Reiner. Reiner refused to do it alone for the second time, his heart couldn't take such a thing.

He needed something to keep their red strings from untangling so Reiner made up his mind. He was going to confess his feelings to Bertholdt after 8 years of sitting on his hands and he was going to ask him out.

When Porco, Marcel and Colt went home, it was just him and Bertholdt. They played a few games and when Bertholdt sat happily on the sofa after winning a match against Reiner, it was the perfect opportunity but Reiner said nothing. The panic was too great and he choked.

A few days later, as they were heading to a party, Bertholdt offered Reiner a ride. Reiner should have had enough time alone in a car for 20 minutes to work up his courage and say it already, but he would feel guilty if he made Bertholdt uncomfortable with his confession and ruined the party for him. He said nothing.

The last opening he had was at the end of the party. They were both drunk and Reiner stood in the spotlight, laughing and putting up a show as he did more when he got older and more confident. It would have been so easy to grab Bertholdt and show everyone they were a thing now by kissing him in front of everyone but Bertholdt was nowhere to be found. Reiner found him sitting on a couch, tired from the party, and he couldn't remember enough of what happened next to have made his move.

Reiner was never going to confess out of the blue. He needed a setup where he had control or it would all be over.

He cleverly chose a hot day to ask Bertholdt to meet him. What could be more romantic than going together to the funfair in the middle of Spring Break?

The colored lights of the fairground attractions cast Bertholdt's face in such pretty light as the sun was setting over the fair and a gentle breeze was blowing through their hair. It made Reiner want to stop and stare at his beautiful face for hours to imagine how his lips would feel against Reiner's and how their big noses would bump and how his heart would jump out of his chest if he had the chance to look deep into those forest greens, but he could only sneak glances here and there before he got too nervous about being caught. It should be illegal to be this handsome.

Reiner wanted to ride roller coasters and go in the bumper cars. Although he had been separated by an entire lifetime, he still got that urge to ram into things. Bertholdt wanted to do something a little more peaceful so they visited some of the carnival games and had a snack along the way.

"Wanna shoot?" Reiner asked before they could pass the shooting range stand.

"If you're fine with making a stop for it."

"You love to shoot, don't you?" Reiner smirked, "You're good at it"

Bertholdt blushed at that, shaking his head but showing no further objection. He traded a few tokens for a gun and took aim and it came as no surprise to Reiner that he hit every target right in the center despite the gun being obviously rigged. When he was done, Bertholdt raised his gun as if it were a military grade and he smiled proudly. Reiner clapped him on the back. "Nice shootin', Tex," he laughed.

"Thank you, but it's nothing," Bertholdt said.

"You can pick something from the top row," the carnie said, taking Bertholdt's gun back. Bertholdt didn't have to look very far up to see the prizes, he was so tall in this universe too. Even taller now that he had been able to grow up without the stress of their invasion. He must have been nearly 6'7" and kept growing.

"Hum...Reiner, I don't know which one to choose," the brunet looked at the stuffed animals in the top row.

"And that little guy over there?" You like whales," the blond pointed to the large blue stuffed animal.

"Do you love him?" Bertholdt asked, "If you want, you can choose one. You can even keep it."

"Really?" Reiner asked

"I could never choose and I have enough things at home," Bertholdt smiled.

Reiner looked at the options. A pink teddy bear with a heart on its chest, a large unicorn with a torn horn, the whale he thought Bertholdt might love, and then he saw one that would send a message.

"That one," Reiner pointed, and the carnie got on his stepping stool to free the stuffed giraffe Reiner pointed at from its hook and handed it to Reiner, who smiled and thanked Bertholdt, who said it was really nothing and he was happy to see Reiner happy.

They walked across the fairgrounds with his stuffed giraffe in his hands. Reiner asked to stop at a candy stall and so they walked by each with a cotton candy cone in their hands. They hadn't said anything to each other in a while, probably because they were both stuffing their mouths with fluffy pink candy. Reiner didn't want to lose his momentum.

"Hey, wanna go on the Ferris wheel? We might see your house from the sky." Reiner said.

"That will be fun," Bertholdt smiled.

Everyone loved taking a ride on a Ferris wheel. So high, something romantic might even happen and no one would be around to see it. They lined up together and Reiner tried to finish his cotton candy as fast as he could. He was finally going to confess up there and he couldn't have any food in his hand. He was nervous but he had spent hours preparing his lines in the bathroom mirror. It was practically in the pocket.

"Ohayo, Reiner, Bertholdt."

"Pieck!?" Reiner yelled. She sat in her wheelchair right in front of them in the queue and at second glance Annie was standing next to her, who now also turned her head but didn't say a hello. The ravenette turned her chair to face the boys and Bertholdt waved at them.

"Hey, we didn't see you there. What are you two doing here?" Bertholdt asked.

"What are you two doing here?" Pieck repeated with a mischievous, fluffy smile.

"Okay, I get it," Bertholdt laughed, "Reiner wanted to go to the fair together."

"Oh, and you didn't invite any of us, Reiner?"

Panic washed over him, "We wanted to have a fun afternoon without having to deal with a large group. Hey, how about splitting us in two so we don't rock the cart?" he nudged Bertholdt, "You can go with Annie and I'll go with Pieck," he winked at his taller friend.

Annie does not react. She seemed fine with it. It was Bertholdt who nodded hastily and accepted Reiner's order, and immediately Reiner could swat himself in the face. Why did he do this? He had planned everything perfectly and even had the courage to confess but now he had sabotaged himself when he got his chance. This Bertholdt didn't even like Annie, did he? Why did Reiner try to set them up at a crucial time?

What if he did? Did Bertholdt even love boys in this universe? He loved Annie in the past, why would it be any different now? He could cry how he had set himself up in blind panic where he was trying to run away from the situation and do the gentlemanly thing to do. The blonde and the brunet didn't even talk to each other while they stood in line and as far as Reiner knew they had always been friends, but now Reiner felt like he could cry. And he couldn't ask Bertholdt to accompany him anyway.

Reiner and Pieck were the first to enter a cart. She must have seen how down he as they went up a level because she smiled at him very sympathetically and put a hand on his knee.

"I'm sorry that we showed up. Were you here to make a move?" Pieck asked.

"Huh?" Reiner asked.

"You wanted to go on the Ferris wheel with Bertholdt to be romantic, didn't you? I'm sorry it didn't work out because of us."

Reiner was beet red. He hadn't told Pieck about his crush on Bertholdt. He hadn't even told anyone he was gay. He would rather wait and see until he starts a relationship and people figure out what he is than coming out of the closet. How could she know? He stared at the ravenette and almost squeezed his stuffed giraffe from how hard he hugged it and she laughed.

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. And I wouldn't worry about Annie too much, either," she winked.

Reiner was stunned. Now his failed plan seemed even dumber.

"I don't know why I did that," the blond admitted wistfully.

"You didn't know what to do so you pushed him away. But I don't think Bertholdt likes Annie and I know Annie doesn't like Bertholdt. They're probably a little bored up there on their own without you there."

Why was Pieck there with just Annie anyway? Well, that was none of Reiner's business anyway.

"I don't know what to do," Reiner said as he petted his giraffe for comfort.

"You should be honest with him. Just tell him you don't want him to go to Marley. That's what it's all about, isn't it? You want to start something before he can't leave," Pieck said.

"What!? How do you know that?" Reiner asked.

"It's written all over you, Reiner. Others may have seen it too."

"Well...even if I'm honest, Bertholdt doesn't have an acceptance letter for Paradis. I would just ask him not to go to college for me."

"Just tell him," Pieck said, insisting, "you're hurting while you wait. You don't deserve that. Take it easy and tell him, believe me." Her soft voice always reminded Reiner of a cat. She could fall asleep anywhere and it looked like she would by laying her head on Reiner's shoulder. "It will be fine, Reiner. You are a good guy, just be yourself."

When the two landed and waited for Bertholdt and Annie, it seemed Pieck was right and their Ferris wheel ride had been uneventful. "I saw my house," Bertholdt said after their reunion. Reiner just laughed but his heart hurt more than he dared admit. It was so minor but he wanted to see Bertholdt's house from the sky with him even though he went there several times a week.

He didn't end up confessing at the fair and he didn't end up telling Bertholdt about his sadness. They spent some of the evening with Pieck and Annie but the girls left again after a while and Reiner felt too ashamed and afraid of being rejected to say anything. Having memories of a past life wasn't always going to help him.