[ While making the face in question, Reiner starts to deny that he's making any such face. But he's thoroughly distracted by Annie staring at him so intensely, and by her assurance that she was never touched.

Tension Reiner didn't know he was carrying suddenly eases from his shoulders. His swallows, then nods, his brows pinched with emotion he can't suppress. ]

People kept trying to tell me you weren't. I wanted to believe them, but… [ He huffs. ] Armin's a really damn convincing liar.

[ And Reiner had held a grudge a mile deep for the entire time Armin was present in Ellipsa. They'd managed to make up after Armin revealed the truth about Bertholdt. But when it came to that lie about Annie, Reiner was never able to fully forgive. How could he? Bertholdt's death was one Armin had no control over. But that lie about Annie—the one that made both Reiner and Bertholdt worry for weeks and weeks—was all Armin.

He shakes his head. ]

… I'll try to quit making whatever face I'm making. [ Said while his expression once again flirts with that part-preoccupied, part-worried look he's been wearing. ] But I'd feel better if you wore a Safety Pin. I have one, too.

[ That makes it better, right? Right! ]