[ Unconventional as it may be, Annie's move snags the entirety of Reiner's attention. His eyes, which had started growing distant as he fell into his thoughts, snap into focus on her face. He stands shock-still, some part of him stunned that she'd actually touch him like this. That she cares enough to keep him from sinking.
Because of course, she's right. Reiner will always try to take the blame, the guilt, the responsibility. He'll pile it higher and higher, the weight of the world cracking him. He took the blame for Marcel's death; he blamed himself for Annie's capture; he even decided that Bertholdt's death must've been his fault, because if only, if only, if only.
Of course he would try to do the same with Porco's. Annie knows him too well.
Instead, he's forced to listen. To process. To piece things together.
Zeke's spinal fluid…? Fuck, no wonder Porco said Zeke was a traitor. No wonder Porco didn't want Zeke protected by the non-aggression pact. If Annie weren't so intent on making her point, Reiner might blame himself for not being strong enough to defeat Zeke. As it stands, her voice turns low and fierce in a way that commands him to listen.
Reiner thought that he'd be the one listing fact that would make Annie's head spin. Instead, he's the one left bewildered—but thoroughly present, not vanished into his fractured mind. ]
All right. [ Agreement: he won't try to make this his fault. ] But … I don't understand how you don't have your Titan.
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Because of course, she's right. Reiner will always try to take the blame, the guilt, the responsibility. He'll pile it higher and higher, the weight of the world cracking him. He took the blame for Marcel's death; he blamed himself for Annie's capture; he even decided that Bertholdt's death must've been his fault, because if only, if only, if only.
Of course he would try to do the same with Porco's. Annie knows him too well.
Instead, he's forced to listen. To process. To piece things together.
Zeke's spinal fluid…? Fuck, no wonder Porco said Zeke was a traitor. No wonder Porco didn't want Zeke protected by the non-aggression pact. If Annie weren't so intent on making her point, Reiner might blame himself for not being strong enough to defeat Zeke. As it stands, her voice turns low and fierce in a way that commands him to listen.
Reiner thought that he'd be the one listing fact that would make Annie's head spin. Instead, he's the one left bewildered—but thoroughly present, not vanished into his fractured mind. ]
All right. [ Agreement: he won't try to make this his fault. ] But … I don't understand how you don't have your Titan.
[ Eren hadn't shown him that much. ]