Returning Home (Reiner x Reader) Chapter IV

WARNING: Heavy Spoilers Ahead. This story is not an AU or remake. It’s going to flow with the original story but there will be some minor changes. You guys are in for a surprise.

The rain had begun. At first it started off as a light drizzle but then it gradually bucketed down.

“I can’t remember where, though. Outside of Wall Maria, or inside? I remember however,” you began, “being taken away from my family. Ah, that bouquet of red roses.”

“Who did you receive them from?” Reiner asked.

“I can’t recall a name,” you answered, “but, all I can remember is that well, he was my beloved.” They all began listening intently as you continued, “My hometown. It’s calling for me. Where am I, what am I? That voice asking me to return with ‘Them’. Who’s ‘Them’? I-I, I don’t understand.”

The room was filled with a tense aura. Silence fell upon you all as all that could be heard were the heavy pellets of rain tackling the roof of the medic room.

“(Name), you--,” Reiner began before being cut off by...

“(NAME)!” slamming the door open it was Hanji. “My daughter! Are you alright?!”

“Daughter?” Annie pondered.

Followed by Hanji was Levi. “Brat. I told you not to overdo it,” he said with a stern face towards you. He looked over to Bertholdt and glowered at him before demanding, “Who did this to her?”

Shaken by his demand Bertholdt’s lips began trembling as he couldn’t find the words, “I-I--”

“It was me Lance Corporal Levi, Sir,” Reiner spoke up, disappointment and fear evident in his voice.

“Hmm,” Hanji was immersed in examining your wounds that had healed and then she said, “as expected, they healed well, huh. Did you take your medicine today (Name)?”

Nodding your head side to side you replied, “I couldn’t find it mother. I think I lost it.” Then you added in Reiner’s defense, “And olde--, Levi. Please don’t hurt him. It was merely an accident.”

“Fine. Whatever. Just because you said so,” he obeyed. Reiner was relieved and glad that you had come to his aid.

“Ahh that’s no good (NAME)!” Hanji began panicking. “You know that these meds will help you with your night terrors, right?”

“Yes I know mother,” you quickly answered, “but I somehow misplaced it...”

“I’ll go back to my office to get you a fresh set. Be back in a sec,” she stated and took off. You could’ve sworn you saw Annie’s face cringe in anger.

Eyeing them intensely, Levi decided to ask, “And who might these three be?” pointing at Reiner, Bertholdt then Annie.

Before they could formally introduce themselves you interrupted, introducing them for them, “Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover and Annie Leonhart. They’re my--” At that you put a hand over your mouth in surprise. You knew Reiner’s last name but not Annie or Bertholdt’s. With this the trio stared at you.

“They’re your what?” Levi asked again. “(Name).”

“Acquaintances. They’re my acquaintances,” you answered more clearly. Looking over to Reiner and Bertholdt you saw their faces drop. They were sad. Especially Reiner for he thought he had made friends with you.

“(Name) I’m back!” Hanji announced in a boomy voice. “Here are your new fresh sets of meds dear!” Handing you a fresh pack you thanked her and took a pill.
Looking at Reiner Hanji continued, “So, you were the one who took down my (Name).”

Reiner gulped before nervously explaining, “Well, I-uh got carried away and uh...” he began trailing off.

Clicking her fingers loudly Hanji proposed an idea, “I got it.”

“What?” you and Levi inquired.

“What’s your name trainee and what’s your affiliation with (Name)?” Hanji started off looking at Reiner.

Standing up and saluting Reiner answered firmly, “Of the 104th trainee squad, Reiner Braun! I am an acquaintance of (Name).”

“I see,” she said a little disappointed. “Looks like (Name) still hasn’t made any friends yet...”

“I didn’t come to make friends mother,” you stated back, “I came to gain knowledge so I can later join father’s side in combat against the titans.”

“Oh don’t be such a loner (Name),” Hanji countered. “All the people in this room have that if not a similar goal, don’t they?”

“Of eradicating the titans,” Levi added.

Pointing in Reiner’s direction Hanji said, “Reiner.”

“Yes, ma’am?” the stud replied. You found it rather cute how Reiner changed from this beastly man to a humble little boy. Your giggle was caught unnoticed by the others.

“You are to be my daughter’s bodyguard!” Hanji announced. What? A bodyguard? You could protect yourself you know? “And on top of that, I want you to help her make friends. Since you look like the social type.”

“Mother!?” you screamed. “I can protect myself you know? I don’t need a bo--”

“Oh and make sure you give her her meds every morning okay?” Hanji added further, ignoring your rants. “She can’t afford to have night terrors hindering her efforts to join the Survey Corps in 3 years. UNDERSTOOD?”

Taking a chunk of saliva back into his throat and looking over to you sulk he confirmed, “Understood!”

“Wha-? Reiner!?” you shouted at him. “You don’t have to--”

“(Name),” Levi halted you. “It’s for the best. We can’t have others hurt you. Remember what happened when you were just ten years of age?”

“I, I know but now’s diff--,” you became teary as you reminisced of what had happened that day. You were sparring with Levi and he kicked you so hard your shin bone fractured and then snapped into two as you fell.

“Now’s no different,” again he cut you off. “Listen to me, and accept the decision.”

You said nothing but decided to nod in reluctant agreement.

“So it’s settled!” Hanji announced. “Great! Now we won’t have to babysit you hahaha. We’re going to be going on expedition the day after tomorrow so we won’t be seeing you from now (Name).” After that Hanji came up and hugged you tightly before finishing off, “Well then, be careful my dear (Name).” You followed her gaze as she glanced briefly at Reiner before looking back to you and added with a smirk, “And behave, yourself..” You and Reiner immediately turned deep shades of red as Hanji and Levi departed. Before he left completely Levi turned and said to you, “Don’t overdo it, brat.” You smiled cheekily at that.

After their departure Sasha, Krista and Ymir returned with your tray of food.

“It’s dinner time for us now so we gotta go,” Ymir suggested as she took Krista with her. “Laters (Name). Get well soon.”

“Goodbye (Name), see you in the morning,” Krista bid you a wave with a gentle smile before leaving with Ymir.

“If you’re not gonna finish those, do the food call and summon me huehuehue,” Sasha said poking at your tray.

“Goodbye and goodnight guys,” you smiled softly as they filed out.

“We should get going too,” Annie finally spoke after a while. “Bertholdt, Reiner.” She gestured to the door as the two boys followed her out.

“Since I’m your bodyguard,” Reiner started, a tint of pink dusted on his features, “I’ll see you around?”

Flashing your widest grin you answered, “Of course. See you around, Reiner.” Reiner’s heart fluttered upon seeing you grin. You had chose to leave behind what he did to you that day but part of you still wanted to get even with him. After he left, you attended to your tray of dinner.

“No way she’s one of us,” Bertholdt spat out while the trio walked through the hallway away from your medic room.

“You never know,” Reiner responded. “But she did mention coming from a village outside Wall Maria, didn’t she? That’s near the mountains.”

“Or inside,” Annie corrected, “we don’t know whether she’s one of us. She might be their experiment. Hell just look at her eyes. But we were the ones assigned with this mission,” she added further, “us three.”

“Whatever the case,” Reiner scowled at himself, “it’s my duty to protect her now. It’s the only way I can repay her for what I did to her today.”

“You like her, admit it Reiner,” Annie bluntly said out of the blues. Reiner and Bertholdt both went red. Reiner went redder.

“Maybe I do!” he raised his voice, trekking ahead of the two faster to the mess hall to avoid further interrogation.

“Just remember our mission,” Bertholdt restated quietly.


Your head began to spin again. “Ughhhh, what? Again?” You seemed to start having an occurrence of frequent headaches. Again those voices rung through your head clearer this time. Your memory was very foggy.

“I want you to meet some friends of mine. Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover and Annie Leonhart.”

Your eyes widened with shock. “What? Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover and Annie Leonhart? I, I--I know them..” Reiner had just finished dinner and was down the hall coming up to check on you.

With that the boy with black hair combed back to reveal his forehead departed.

Then it struck you. You remembered his name. Walking in Reiner opened his mouth and spoke, only to be speechless as he heard your words...

“I love you, B--”

“Berwick.” At that, your head fell back as you fell into a deep slumber. Next to you a shaking Reiner stood, mouth agaped.  

It was still raining heavily but the wind decided to join in making the ruckus outside even more disastrous.